The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved a resolution expressing its full support, and that of the people of Bacolod, for the initiative of Deputy Speaker Alfredo “Albee” B. Benitez calling for a congressional inquiry into the recurring power interruptions, rotational brownouts, and red and yellow alerts affecting Negros Island and the entire Visayas, Councilor Ceasar Distrito said Thursday, Sept. 10.
Authored by Distrito, the resolution urges the House Committee on Visayas Development, the House Committee on Energy, and other appropriate congressional committees to conduct hearings at the earliest opportunity and pursue legislative and policy measures toward a reliable, adequate and affordable electricity supply.
Distrito, in a press release, said the repeated power interruptions have already caused serious disruption to households, businesses, government offices, hospitals, schools, and other essential services throughout Bacolod City and the Visayas.
“An unreliable power supply imposes a heavy burden on our people. Consumers suffer not only from interrupted electricity but also from lost income and productivity, damaged equipment, disrupted business operations, and additional expenses for generators and alternative power sources,” Distrito said.
He stressed that the recurring red and yellow alerts require a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the adequacy of generating capacity and reserves, the condition of transmission infrastructure, the availability of ancillary services, and the overall preparedness of the Visayas Grid to meet present and future electricity demand.
The approved resolution supports Benitez’s initiative to bring the concerns of electricity consumers before Congress and require concerned national agencies and power-sector stakeholders to explain the causes of the recurring supply deficiencies and present concrete solutions.
It calls for the participation of the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, generation companies, distribution utilities, and other concerned stakeholders in the proposed congressional hearings.
Among the matters sought to be examined are the causes of recurring red and yellow alerts, the shutdown or derated capacity of generating plants, the adequacy of reserves and ancillary services, transmission constraints affecting Negros and the Visayas, and the status and completion timelines of proposed generation, transmission, renewable-energy, and energy-storage projects.
“We fully support the initiative of Deputy Speaker Albee Benitez to demand accountability and decisive action from the agencies and stakeholders responsible for ensuring the stability of our power system. This is not merely a technical concern, it directly affects the daily lives, livelihoods, and economic security of our people,” Distrito said.
The resolution likewise expresses the City Government’s support for other pending and future congressional resolutions, bills, and initiatives intended to improve grid reliability, increase generation and reserve capacity, strengthen transmission infrastructure, promote renewable energy and energy storage, and protect consumers from the economic consequences of an unreliable power supply.
Distrito emphasized that a reliable and reasonably priced electricity supply is indispensable to Bacolod City and Negros Island’s continued economic growth, investment generation, employment creation, and uninterrupted delivery of essential public services.
“Congressional hearings must result in definite commitments, clear timelines, and immediate, medium-term, and long-term solutions. Our people deserve a power system that is stable, sufficient, affordable, and capable of supporting the continued development of Bacolod, Negros Island, and the entire Visayas,” Distrito said.*
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