Manila: A red alert status has been announced for the Luzon and Visayas power grids due to significant power generation issues resulting in 862.3 MW being unavailable to the grid. This shortage has been exacerbated by the lack of power imports from Luzon, contributing further to the alert in the Visayas.
According to Philippines News Agency, NGCP spokesperson lawyer Cynthia Alabanza emphasized that energy sector stakeholders are closely monitoring the balance of supply and demand, particularly during the summer months when electricity consumption typically spikes. Notably, the peak demand record set in 2025 of 13,839 MW has already been exceeded twice this year, first on April 24 with a demand of 14,016 MW, and again on May 12 when it climbed to 14,268 MW.
In response to the current situation, the NGCP has announced potential Manual Load Dropping (MLD) until 6 p.m. in multiple areas across Luzon to maintain the power system's integrity. The areas potentially affected include those served by the Abra Electric Cooperative, Peninsula Electric Cooperative Inc., and several others. Similarly, MLD may be implemented in areas covered by 30 electric cooperatives in the Visayas, notably in Cebu, Samar, Leyte, Capiz, and Bohol, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The NGCP has stated that these measures may be canceled if system conditions improve.
In light of the power issues, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has directed the NGCP to resolve the transmission constraints that are affecting the dispatch of large power plants, thus triggering alerts in the Luzon grid. The Department of Energy (DOE) reported that the 500-kilovolt transmission lines in Tayabas-Ilijan and Dasmari±as-Ilijan tripped at 6:30 a.m., causing significant disconnections. Additionally, the Masinloc Unit 3 went on forced outage shortly after. The DOE has instructed San Miguel Global Power to restore its Masinloc Unit 3 turbine and directed other power entities to continue addressing the issues in the Visayas grid.
Meralco has also been proactive, contacting customers enrolled under the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to help manage demand. The utility is prepared to implement MLD or rotating power interruptions if necessary and has urged the public to practice energy efficiency. Meralco has been installing solar panels at its facilities as part of its Resource Conservation and Efficiency Program, initiated in 2020, to improve energy efficiency and reduce demand on the grid.
