DoE briefs governors on power crunch

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Energy (DoE) Visayas Field Office briefed the governors of Iloilo and Aklan on continuing power supply constraints in the Visayas Grid as rotational brownouts and manual load dropping remain in effect in parts of the region.

DoE Visayas Field Office director Renante M. Sevilla led the virtual meeting with Iloilo Gov. Arthur R. Defensor Jr. and Aklan Gov. Joen Miraflores, providing an update on the prevailing electricity situation and its impact on Panay.

Sevilla and his team presented the latest power demand and supply conditions in the Visayas Grid, including challenges affecting the reliability of electricity service on the island.

The DoE officials also discussed energy projects in the pipeline that are expected to increase generation capacity and help meet the region’s growing electricity demand.

The projects form part of the government’s longer-term efforts to improve the adequacy and reliability of power supply in the Visayas and reduce the risk of recurring shortages.

The briefing came as distribution utilities and electric cooperatives continued implementing rotational power interruptions and manual load dropping when supply margins become insufficient to meet demand.

The DoE emphasized the need for closer coordination among the national government, local governments and power industry stakeholders to address the immediate supply situation while pursuing long-term solutions.

For Panay, such coordination is particularly important as local governments seek clearer information on the causes of the ongoing power interruptions and the measures being undertaken to prevent the problem from becoming persistent.