Siquijor Power Supply Woes Trigger Urgent Government Response
The persistent power supply woes in Siquijor have drawn the attention of the Department of Energy (DOE). Recently, the province declared a state of calamity due to daily blackouts lasting four to six hours. This declaration spotlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to resolve the worsening electricity outages.
The DOE confirmed that the island’s power supply issues stem from a mix of technical, operational, and regulatory challenges. During inspections and meetings held in early May, officials found that these problems have severely hampered reliable electricity delivery across the island.
Power Capacity and Demand Gap Deepens Outages
Siquijor Island Power Corp. (Sipcor) currently has an installed capacity of 11.580 megawatts (MW). However, only 8.816 MW is contracted to the Provincial Electric Cooperative of Siquijor (Prosielco), while the island’s actual power demand has already reached 10.51 MW. This supply gap explains the frequent brownouts affecting most areas.
Governor Jake Vincent Villa announced the state of calamity on June 5, following unanimous approval from the provincial council. He explained that the island’s off-grid status, compounded by the breakdown of six Sipcor-operated generators, has caused daily blackouts for over a month.
The calamity declaration enables the local government to allocate funds for renting two additional generators, Villa said. He also stressed that the prolonged outages have significantly impacted customer satisfaction, which is critical given Siquijor’s status as a popular tourist destination. Last year alone, the province welcomed 1.4 million visitors.
DOE and NEA Mobilize to Bridge Power Gap
To address the supply shortage, the DOE has advised Prosielco, under the guidance of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), to update its Power Supply Procurement Plan and Distribution Development Plan. These updates aim to fast-track the acquisition of additional power sources.
As a stopgap measure, the NEA arranged the deployment of a two-megawatt modular generator from Palawan to Siquijor, expected to arrive by mid-June. Meanwhile, Prosielco expressed “grave frustration” with Sipcor’s performance in a May 28 letter, accusing the company of “brazen disregard” for the welfare of Siquijodnons.
The DOE reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate closely with concerned agencies and local officials to implement both immediate and long-term solutions. “The DOE remains committed to ensuring a stable, reliable, and sufficient power supply for the residents of Siquijor,” sources said.
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