Malaca±ang: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has mandated the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to develop a comprehensive energy strategy for the province of Siquijor, addressing its severe power crisis.
According to Philippines News Agency, Presidential Communications Office and Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro announced that the President aims to establish a permanent and reliable power system in Siquijor within six months. Castro relayed that President Marcos instructed the DOE and NEA to ensure a stable and sufficient energy service by repairing plants, transmission lines, fuel logistics, and technical standards.
President Marcos expressed his frustration and disappointment with the frequent power outages in Siquijor, labeling the situation as untenable. Castro noted that the NEA will spearhead the response to the power crisis, working closely with the local government unit (LGU) and power distributors Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR) and the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PROSIELCO).
Furthermore, Marcos has called for a thorough legal review and audit of the existing agreement between SIPCOR and PROSIELCO to prevent future crises and to hold accountable those responsible for the current predicament.
Castro emphasized the impact of daily brownouts lasting over five hours, disrupting education and employment in the province. She criticized the inadequate power supply, outdated facilities, and insufficient funding for repairs and spare parts, deeming these issues unacceptable.
During his visit to the SIPCOR-operated power plant in Siquijor town, President Marcos discovered the facility's deteriorated condition. As an immediate measure, he ordered the deployment of two emergency generator sets from Palawan to alleviate the power shortages.
PROSIELCO had previously identified generator malfunctions and maintenance schedules as the main reasons for outages, which sometimes extend beyond eight hours. The DOE reported that while SIPCOR's installed capacity is 11.580 megawatts (MW), only 8.816 MW is contracted to PROSIELCO, falling short of Siquijor's current power requirement of 10.51 MW.
