Lopez-led microgrid operator FP Island Energy Corporation (FP Island) and agri-tech start-up Agrabah Ventures, Inc. (Agrabah), have forged a partnership to help uplift the lives of residents in several remote and off-grid islands in Caramoan and Garchitorena towns in Camarines Sur, where FP Island operates.
FP Island and Agrabah officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) recently to formalize the collaboration, which will focus primarily on boosting the productivity and competitiveness of farmers, fisherfolk and people’s organizations in areas being served by FP Island.
Under the MOU, FP Island and Agrabah will aim to improve and strengthen the agri-aquacultural value chain of FP Island-assisted people’s organizations by enhancing their production capacity and quality, and by providing improved financing, market access and linkages to the same people’s organizations.
As their initial joint project, FP Island shall provide funding support or in-kind resources for the capability-building and technical assistance of local seaweed farmers.
FP Island, a sister company of leading clean energy provider First Gen Corporation, operates microgrids in the off-grid islands of Lahuy, Haponan, and Quinalasag in Camarines Sur. Both FP Island and First Gen are subsidiaries of First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH), a conglomerate with strong advocacies to protect the environment.
For FP Island, the MOU with Agrabah represents another step to improve living conditions in the off-grid Camarines Sur islands. Before FP Island opened in 2021 its microgrids — or small and localized electricity networks — the islands either suffered from long hours of blackouts or from the total absence of electricity service.
“This partnership aligns with FP Island’s vision of powering progress in our communities. By combining our clean energy solutions with Agrabah’s agribusiness integration and market-linkage support, we’re helping local seaweed farmers gain fair market access and strengthen their livelihoods,” FP Island Vice President Edgardo del Rosario said after signing the MOU.
Agrabah Ventures Chief Executive Officer Joselito Ocol Jr. shared the same sentiment with del Rosario’s. Agrabah, a platform for trade, financing, and logistics, connects more than 5,000 farmers and fisherfolk to buyers and clients, thereby ensuring the fair profits for producers.
“This is a testament that partnerships can help communities because it takes a lot of effort, and no single entity can do it alone,” Ocol said when he signed the MOU. “By working together, we increase the chance of progress in the area.”
Under the MOU, FP Island and Agrabah will coordinate in identifying people’s organizations and designing appropriate capacity-building activities — such as training, knowledge-sharing, and mentoring sessions —that can support their development.
Agrabah will provide technical guidance on production and post-harvest practices, as well as share market insights and pricing trends to help communities align their products with market needs. The agri-tech company is also positioned to act as a potential market off-taker or aggregator for products from FP Island–assisted groups.
More broadly, both organizations will collaborate in offering technical support, strengthening access to resources, and improving market connections for FP Island–assisted people’s organizations, with the shared goal of enhancing local livelihoods and helping communities become more resilient and competitive.
