Former Vice President and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo revealed that she availed herself of a Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) loan to finance the installation of solar panels at her home in Naga City.
Robredo disclosed during an interview with the Naga City Press Corps, where she explained that taking out a loan allowed her to spread the cost of the solar installation through salary deductions instead of paying the full amount upfront.
“There’s indeed an initial investment, but if you can take out a loan, you can pay for it little by little,” Robredo said, noting that the monthly payments were manageable because they were automatically deducted from her salary.
She also pointed out that the Social Security System (SSS) has a similar financing program, which could help make solar energy more accessible to Filipino households that may find the initial installation cost expensive.
According to Robredo, the investment has already resulted in significant savings on her household electricity bills.
She said her electricity bill before installing the solar panels typically reached between ₱5,000 and ₱7,000. Since the installation, however, she said the highest bill she has received was only ₱300.
Robredo said the experience demonstrated that renewable energy can provide both environmental and financial benefits, particularly when financing options allow households to spread out the initial cost.
“Installing solar has a lot of benefits—not only does it help the environment, but it also provides huge savings,” she said.
The initiative also comes as the Naga City government expands its use of solar energy in public facilities. Among the facilities identified for solar use are the Naga City People’s Hall and the Raul S. Roco Library.
Robredo’s disclosure has highlighted how government-backed financing programs could potentially help more Filipino households shift toward renewable energy while reducing their long-term electricity expenses.
