Baricuatro signs 2 EOs addressing power supply woes in Cebu

Local

FOLLOWING continuous electricity supply problems and recurring rotational brownouts in Cebu, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro signed two Executive Orders (EOs) Friday, Sept. 4, to address the province’s power situation.

One of the EOs seeks to reduce electricity consumption across provincial government facilities, while the other prepares for the transition of the provincial government’s interim power operations in Malapascua Island.

Baricuatro signed EO No. 47 adopting the Takna Pagpawong Sa Suga (TAPS) Program during a press conference at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, where she convened key power officials to discuss the province’s unstable electricity supply.

Under EO 47, all departments, offices, economic enterprises, field offices and other facilities owned, leased, operated or controlled by the provincial government must observe a weekly TAPS Energy Reduction Hour every Monday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

During the designated hour, covered facilities must switch off or dim nonessential lights and equipment where safe and practicable.

They must also turn off unused computers, monitors, printers, chargers, kitchen appliances and similar devices, while equipment that needs to remain available should be placed in energy saving modes.

Air conditioning units in unoccupied spaces must be switched off, while occupied air conditioned areas should maintain a thermostat setting of at least 24 degrees Celsius, subject to medical, technical and equipment requirements.

The order also directs provincial facilities to reduce the use of nonessential elevators, escalators, fountains, pumps, displays and other electrical systems and avoid scheduling discretionary energy intensive activities during the designated hour when practicable.

The measures will not apply when they could compromise essential services.

Healthcare, emergency response, disaster risk reduction and management, public safety, security, communications, information technology, water supply, sanitation, laboratory operations, cold chain requirements and other frontline services must continue without interruption.

Emergency lighting, fire protection systems, medical equipment, refrigeration for medicines, servers, network infrastructure, CCTV, access controls, essential pumps and communications equipment must also remain operational.

Provincial facilities must maintain weekly logs detailing the measures implemented, actual or estimated energy reductions, operational issues and exemptions.

Monthly reports will be submitted to the Provincial Energy Efficiency and Conservation Officer, who will lead the program’s implementation and monitoring.

The TAPS program is aligned with the Department of Energy’s O.N.E.: Oras Natin sa Efficiency campaign, which promotes coordinated efforts to reduce unnecessary electricity consumption.

The provincial government will also encourage component cities and municipalities, national government agencies, schools, utilities, commercial and industrial establishments, malls, hotels, civil society organizations, households and other energy users to participate voluntarily.

Baricuatro also signed EO No. 48 creating a Composite Technical Working Group for the orderly transition of the province’s interim power generation operations and related facilities in Malapascua Island, Barangay Logon, Daanbantayan.

The move comes after the provincial government assumed interim power generation operations on the island in August 2024 following the cessation of operations of the previous power provider and the resulting threat of a prolonged power crisis.

EO 48 said the province’s continued operation of an electricity generation facility requires specialized technical capabilities, regulatory compliance, personnel, maintenance, fuel, logistics and substantial financial resources and was not intended to become a permanent provincial undertaking.

The TWG will assess the existing generation system, including its dependable capacity, demand profile, operating condition, fuel requirements, personnel, safety systems, logistics and reliability.

It will also conduct an inventory and condition assessment of province owned generator sets, equipment, spare parts, improvements, fuel stocks, records and other assets connected with the Malapascua operations.

The group will evaluate possible successor operators, including the National Power Corp. Small Power Utilities Group (NPC SPUG), Cebu II Electric Cooperative Inc. (CEBECO II), a duly authorized microgrid system provider, a qualified third party or another entity legally authorized by the appropriate national agencies.

It will determine the conditions that must be met before a successor can assume the operations, including regulatory authority, generation adequacy, fuel supply, staffing, maintenance, safety and environmental compliance, consumer protection, emergency response and continuity arrangements.

The TWG will then prepare a transition and continuity plan identifying responsible entities, milestones, risks, fallback arrangements and a cutover protocol designed to prevent avoidable interruptions in electricity service.

It is chaired by Provincial Administrator Atty. Joseph “Ace” Durano, with Provincial General Services Officer Maria Teresa Alcos as vice chairperson.

Its members include Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Guiller Ceniza, Provincial Treasurer Atty. Roy Salubre, Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Rodas, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Energy Committee chairman Stanley Caminero, Fourth District board member Kerrie Keane Shimura, Daanbantayan Mayor Gilbert Arrabis Jr., and representatives from the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, NPC SPUG and CEBECO II.

The TWG will submit its findings, recommendations, transition framework and proposed definitive agreements to Baricuatro and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

It cannot execute a definitive turnover or property disposition agreement, approve regulated electricity rates, obligate provincial funds without lawful authority or bind national agencies, local governments, private entities or the province beyond its legal authority.

Friday’s press conference brought together Department of Energy 7 Regional Director Renante Sevilla and National Grid Corp. of the Philippines Assistant Vice President and head of System Operations Visayas Engr. Neil Modena.

As well as from the distribution sector, Visayan Electric Co. OIC President and General Manager Engr. Mark Anthony Kindica, CEBECO I Acting General Manager Engr. Getulio Crodua, CEBECO II General Manager Lowl Belciña and CEBECO III General Manager Virgilio Fortich Jr.

The officials were convened as Cebu continues to experience rotational brownouts, with Baricuatro seeking answers on the causes of the province’s unstable electricity supply and measures to improve reliability.

The power situation remained tight Friday, with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines placing the Visayas and Mindanao grids under red and yellow alerts due to high system demand and power plant outages.

For the Visayas grid, NGCP scheduled a red alert from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, with yellow alerts from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

NGCP reported available capacity at 2,233 megawatts against a peak demand of 2,504 MW.

The situation was affected by major coal plant outages, including TVI 1 and PEDC 3, as well as limited power imports from Mindanao.

A yellow alert means operating reserves are below the required level, although it does not automatically mean brownouts will occur.

A red alert indicates that available supply is insufficient to meet demand and required reserves, increasing the possibility of manual load dropping or rotational interruptions.(MyTVCebu)