The Regional Development Council in Western Visayas (RDC-6) is calling for a state of power emergency across the Visayas to combat persistent electricity shortages. This resolution was approved during an ad referendum on Monday, following discussions with Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.
RDC-6 co-chairman Jobert Peñaflorida emphasized, "We passed an urgent referendum urging the Office of the President and the DOE to declare a state of power emergency in the Visayas. We are not only including Western Visayas but the entire Visayas because that is a common problem."
The council plans to encourage other regional development councils in the Visayas to adopt similar resolutions. The declaration would facilitate local governments in implementing measures and fast-tracking permits for short-term solutions proposed by the DOE, such as battery energy storage systems and power barges expected to be operational by year-end.
- Fast-tracking permits and licenses for power solutions
- Conducting a study on the economic impact of power interruptions
- Pushing for the interconnection of the Visayas and Luzon
RDC-6 has also passed another resolution advocating for the interconnection of the Visayas and Luzon through the proposed Mindoro-Panay transmission link. This project aims to enhance the western transmission corridor and is scheduled to be implemented by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) between 2041 and 2050.
Peñaflorida noted, "We saw that Luzon has an excess power supply... What we need in the Visayas to bridge the gap is more than 400 MW. We will urgently ask for interconnectivity so that the Visayas can have additional power supply."
The ongoing electricity challenges in the Visayas highlight the need for immediate and coordinated efforts to ensure a stable power supply for the region.