Manila:Power supply remains a crucial factor in attracting data center investors to the Philippines, according to business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan. During a briefing on the third quarter 2026 performance of PLDT Inc., Pangilinan emphasized the need to address issues that hinder investment, including power, water, and political challenges.

According to Philippines News Agency, Pangilinan highlighted the importance of providing incentives and ensuring a consistent power supply to boost investor confidence. He noted that PLDT Group's data center arm, Vitro Inc., benefits from a distribution utility partnership with Manila Electric Company, providing assurance of constant power supply.

The government is committed to enhancing the country's energy security by increasing the supply of renewable energy (RE). The target is to raise RE's share to 35 percent of the power mix by 2030, 50 percent by 2040, and over 50 percent in subsequent years to mitigate high costs from oil-based sources.

Meanwhile, Victor Genuino, president and CEO of VITRO Inc., mentioned that the pushback on data centers in the U.S. is favorable for the Philippines. He noted increased interest from frontier AI companies and major hyperscalers like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Alibaba, and Huawei in the country due to limited U.S. capacity.

Genuino indicated that the Philippines should capitalize on this opportunity, citing Vitro Santa Rosa's 35 megawatt capacity as an example.

PLDT Inc. reported a core income of PHP24.4 billion by end-September. Gross service revenues increased by 2 percent to PHP161.2 billion, with net service revenues rising 1 percent to PHP146.9 billion. Data and broadband services contributed 86 percent of net service revenues, totaling PHP126.5 billion. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDDA) grew 1 percent to PHP82.2 billion, while capital expenditure was PHP36.6 billion, down from PHP43 billion the previous year.