11 February 2024 – ACEN has been honored as one of the 2025 Manila Bulletin Newsmakers of the Year, joining a distinguished roster of individuals and organizations making a profound impact across sports, business, innovation, entertainment, public service and sustainability. Recognized for its transformative initiatives in clean energy, ACEN continues to break barriers and inspire progress in the energy sector.
ACEN received the distinction alongside celebrated figures, including two-time Olympic gold medalist for artistic gymnastics, Carlos Yulo, Olympic bronze medalists Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, P-pop sensation BINI, and acclaimed actors Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards, as well as other trailblazers who are shaping industries and uplifting communities.
Manila Bulletin recognized ACEN for its leadership in accelerating early coal retirement in the Philippines and across the region. Having successfully executed the world’s first market-based Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) in November 2022, ACEN fully divested a 246 MW coal plant in Batangas, with a commitment to retire it by 2040—15 to 25 years ahead of the typical coal plant lifespan. This initiative is projected to prevent up to 50 million tons of carbon emissions.
ACEN is now leveraging its ETM project as a pilot for Transition Credits, an innovative mechanism aimed at further accelerating the plant’s retirement to 2030—ten years earlier than planned—which would further cut carbon emissions by an estimated 19 million tons.
Transition Credits are high-integrity carbon credits that facilitate the just and responsible phaseout of coal, replacing it with clean energy. The company is collaborating with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and The Rockefeller Foundation, under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This initiative gained strong support from both the Philippine and Singaporean governments, with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in August 2024.
The company’s achievements, including its recognition at the 1st Department of Energy (DOE) Sustainable Energy Awards for its efforts in promoting renewable energy innovation and best practices, as well as ACEN RES’ back-to-back gold wins at the Stevie International Business Awards for its innovative marketing campaign, were instrumental in earning the distinction.
“What a privilege and honor for ACEN to be recognized alongside national icons, exceptional individuals, as well as trailblazing companies. At ACEN, sustainability is at our core and we are committed to working closely with communities as we accelerate the energy transition. This includes the early retirement of coal plants and the rapid expansion of renewables not only in the Philippines but around the region,” said Eric Francia, ACEN president and CEO, who accepted the award in a ceremony held at Manila Hotel on February 10.
The awarding ceremony, attended by national and local government officials, and business leaders, also marked the Manila Bulletin’s 125th anniversary, celebrating the publication’s enduring legacy in Philippine journalism.
The Manila Bulletin’s Newsmakers Award honors individuals and organizations whose inspiring stories and innovations have become catalysts for progress, embodying the power of human potential.
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