Capitol University Medical Center (CUMC) has become the first hospital in Mindanao to run entirely on renewable energy after securing a direct supply of geothermal power from First Gen Corporation, marking a milestone for clean energy adoption in the region’s critical health sector. Under an agreement signed last month, First Gen will supply 900 kilowatts (kW) of geothermal power to meet the electricity requirements of the 200-bed hospital, including its Kidney Institute and other specialty care facilities. The power will be sourced from the Mt. Apo Geothermal Plant in Cotabato, owned and operated by First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corporation. CUMC President Rosalinda R. Deleste expressed pleasure in being the first medical center in Mindanao to be powered directly by geothermal energy, highlighting the benefits of using renewable energy for the environment and the health and well-being of Kagayanons. The hospital’s shift to full renewable energy was enabled through the government’s Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), which allows eligible power users to source 100% of their electricity from renewable energy suppliers. First Gen Chief Customer Engagement Officer Carlo Vega noted that geothermal energy is ideal for hospitals and industries that need reliable renewable energy supply, and the company is honored to support CUMC in its journey towards decarbonization. First Gen currently operates over 1,700 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity nationwide and is developing additional hydro projects in Mindanao.
