By Tara Yap
Published Sep 10, 2026 11:28 am
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin (Photo by DOE)
ILOILO CITY—Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin considers Panay Island to be the worst hit in the Visayas power crisis with almost daily rotational blackouts.
“Pag may problema, sila ang worst case kasi sila yung huli mabibigyan ng electricity (If there is a problem, they are the worst case because they are the last to be given electricity),” explained Garin in a virtual press briefing this week.
Garin pointed out that the Visayas inter-connection of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has Panay Island at “end of the line”.
This meant power being transported via the Visayas grid would reach Panay Island last.
Among areas affected are Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo provinces as well as the regional capital of Iloilo City.
Since the end of August, local power distributors have to implement daily rotational power blackouts with NGCP not having enough supply during peak hours with several major power plants shutting down.
The rotational power blackouts—an average of three hours per day–have disrupted work, businesses, and daily lives of local residents.
Garin, a native of Iloilo, has assured that DOE is prioritizing the stability of the Visayas grid, and announced that five power plants are scheduled to be energized again this month.
Meanwhile, the DOE is tapping power plants in Mindanao to augment power supply to the Visayas as the NGCP has been able to interconnect the grid in 2023.
No comments:
Post a Comment