Julia Christine Botin

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

The Department of Energy is imposing P24 billion in fines on Solar Philippines Power Projects Holdings, founded by Batangas lawmaker Leandro Leviste, for failing to deliver on its commitments.DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said the energy department is <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/13/doe-cancels-power-deal-with-leviste-s-solar-philippines-1758">canceling</a> a total of 163 power supply service contracts, totaling 17,000 megawatts.Of this number, Solar Philippines held 28 contracts, totaling 12,000 MW or 60 percent of DOE projections.“Marami siyang financial obligations na babayaran sa gobyerno kasi nabahala di lang ang DOE kundi ang buong gobyerno dahil hindi ka nag-deliver kung ano ang sinabi mo,” the energy chief told DZMM.“Kung hindi natin gagawin ito, baka sumunod ang iba. Kukuha lang ng kontrata, maghihintay ng investor, laway lang ang ibebenta nila. Kailangan may disiplina kasi kikita naman sila dito.”The failure of service providers to deliver the agreed-on power supply by December 2025 will mean thinner energy reserves, which could increase prices, Garin said. “We will have manipis ang supply natin…kasi umaakyat ang demand natin. So manipis ang supply, kulang at hindi bababa ‘yung presyo. Sa projection namin basta pumasok lang itong mga contracts na binigay namin sa mga nakansela, at least mababawasan by 2030, 2029,” she said.“Kaya nga kinancel kasi hindi na naman maaasahan so kailangan i-libre na namin &#x27;yung mga areas na iyon para mag reliable na developers na ang papasok,” she added.Garin said one reason for the fines is due to performance bonds connected with the contracts.“Hindi lang kasi kontrata ang iba d&#x27;yan, mga auction winners &#x27;yan. May assurance ‘yan na bibilhin ang kuryente nila at ‘yung mga financial obligations nila kasi may mga training/development fund na mga fees ‘yan every year,” she said.“On top of the bond, pag hindi mo sinunod yung plan mo at hindi ka nagdeliver, ‘yung cost ng project, additional ‘yan.”She said her department is in talks with the Department of Justice, Office of the Ombudsman and Office of Solicitor General regarding the matter.Leviste founded Solar Philippines in 2013 with a vision of accelerating the development of solar energy in the country.He later sold <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/27/leandro-leviste-divests-shares-in-spnec-2116">16.44 billion shares</a> in SP New Energy Corporation to Meralco PowerGen Corporation for P20.49 billion before he assumed office in the 20th Congress.ABS-CBN News has reached out to Leviste and Solar Philippines for comment. Meanwhile, SP New Energy Corporation or SPNEC on Wednesday said it was asked by the Philippine Stock Exchange to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/14/spnec-says-in-discussions-with-doe-on-canceled-project-1112">clarify its affiliation</a> to Solar Philippines and if the recently announced cancellation of Department of Energy service contracts with the latter would have an impact on the business operations of the company.In a disclosure, SPNEC said &quot;it is not the Solar Philippines&quot; mentioned in news articles. But it further explained that Solar Philippines is a stockholder. &quot;As to whether the Company is affiliated with said ‘Solar Philippines,’ assuming that it and Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings, Inc. (‘SPPPHI’) are one and the same, the Company can confirm, based on corporate records, that SPPPHI is a stockholder of the Company,&quot; the disclosure read.SPNEC added that although it is not Solar Philippines, it received a notice of termination for a service contract for its Sta. Rosa project. The company said it planned to request for reconsideration of the termination

The Department of Energy is imposing P24 billion in fines on Solar Philippines Power Projects Holdings, founded by Batangas lawmaker Leandro Leviste, for failing to deliver on its commitments.

The Department of Energy is imposing P24 billion in fines on Solar Philippines Power Projects Holdings, founded by Batangas lawmaker Leandro Leviste, for failing to deliver on its commitments.

DOE fines Leviste’s Solar Philippines P24-B for failed commitments

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DOE fines Leviste’s Solar Philippines P24-B for failed commitments

David Dizon,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 14, 2026 11:51 AM PHT

|

Updated January 14, 2026 12:02 PM PHT

Read More:

sharon garin

solar philippines

leandro leviste

DOE

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