DOE to blacklist failed RE contractors

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January 17, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving to tighten renewable power contract rules and bar noncompliant firms following the termination of 163 deals, including those linked to Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste.

Speaking on One News’ “Storycon” last Thursday, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the move aims to block “flippers” or investors who secure contracts just to sell them quickly for a profit.

“People should not monetize a privilege given by the government,” Garin said. “The contracts were revised so that if you fail, then you need to be blacklisted in the DOE.”

This comes after close to 18,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy service contracts were canceled over the past two years due to nonperformance.

Of these, 33 contracts totaling 11,400 MW had been awarded to Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. (SPPPHI), the company that made Leviste the country’s youngest self-made billionaire.

“It’s the country that will suffer with this failure to perform because (electricity) prices won’t go down,” Garin said.

The DOE chief also flagged the risk of a power shortfall this summer as a result of the projects failing to deliver on their commitments.

Given this, the DOE is pursuing penalties and considering filing civil, criminal or administrative cases against the developers behind the terminated contracts.

For SPPPHI alone, the agency has imposed a P24-billion penalty, covering forfeited performance bonds as well as administrative and contractual obligations.

Leviste has claimed that the termination stems from his exposés in the so-called Cabral Files, unverified documents allegedly left by the late public works undersecretary Catalina Cabral detailing budget allocations and anomalies in government spending.

“I haven’t received a single peso from the government. My money comes from private business,” said Leviste, son of Sen. Loren Legarda. Garin, however, said the crackdown on idle projects began as early as 2024, when the DOE had already terminated 15 of SPPPHI’s contracts.