2-MW generator en route to Siquijor amid power crisis

SIQUIJOR — A 2-megawatt modular generator set is on its way to Siquijor to help ease the island’s worsening power crisis, following the province’s declaration of a state of calamity earlier this week.

As part of the agreed actions to address the crisis, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) has partnered with the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) to facilitate the transfer of the generator.

The unit is set to leave Palawan today, June 8, and is expected to arrive in Siquijor by June 12. It will be installed at the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative’s (Prosielco) headquarters in Nonoc, Larena.

The additional power source is seen as a crucial step toward stabilizing electricity in the province, which has endured nearly a month of daily blackouts lasting up to five hours. Some areas reportedly receive only two to five hours of electricity per day.

Governor Jake Villa declared the province under a state of calamity on June 3, following the unanimous approval of the Provincial Board.

He described the island’s power situation as “unbearable” during a press conference that, fittingly, was disrupted by a power outage.

“We want the public to know, especially the Siquijodnons, that the challenge has become unbearable. We have been experiencing daily blackouts,” Villa said.

“This is the first time nga extreme ang problema sa kuryente,” he added, noting that previous brownouts usually lasted only one to two hours.

The crisis stems from the failure of all six diesel-powered generators operated by the Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR), the province’s lone power supplier. The generators are currently undergoing an overhaul, leading to a shortfall of 2 megawatts from the island’s total 9.4 MW power requirement.

“Kining atong isla, we are not connected to the grid. We are off-grid, so we are completely dependent on our generators,” Villa said. “Kung duha or tulo ka generator dili mo-function, dili gyud siya mogana.”

The hardest-hit towns include Siquijor, Larena, and San Juan, while parts of Lazi and Maria remain less affected.

Villa warned that the outages are not only affecting daily life but also threatening the province’s tourism-driven economy.

“Last year, our tourist arrivals hit 1.3 million. If we lose our tourists because they are not satisfied with the services of the establishments, this would interrupt and disrupt our economy,” he said.

He added that the blackouts have crippled critical services, including water supply, healthcare, education, communication, and sanitation. The province-run hospital continues to operate with the help of solar power and a backup generator.

“People are blaming me. In fact, I have been receiving threats through text messages because the power crisis is being blamed on me,” Villa said, adding that online workers have also been affected, with many forced to give up jobs due to the unstable power supply.

The declaration of a state of calamity enables the provincial government to access its P14 million calamity fund. Villa said the province is also working to lease two 2-MW generators from Cebu at a cost of about P2.8 million for two months. In addition, PROSIELCO has acquired a 2-MW generator from Palawan.

In a letter dated May 28, PROSIELCO expressed “grave frustration” to SIPCOR president Jose Rommel Orillaza over the ongoing power disruptions.

“It is disheartening that, despite all forms of assistance extended to SIPCOR, the latter remained defiant in the performance of its obligation,” the letter read.

Villa criticized the company for financial mismanagement, including reusing filters due to a lack of maintenance funds and seeking advance payments from PROSIELCO.

“They don’t even have money to purchase filters,” Villa said, adding that SIPCOR repeatedly gave false assurances that spare parts would arrive soon.

DOE Assessment and Next Steps

To assess and resolve the issue, the Department of Energy (DOE), in coordination with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), NEA, National Power Corporation (NPC), and National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), conducted a site inspection in the province on May 6 and 7.

The DOE confirmed the severity of the outages and validated consumer complaints. The agency said the crisis was caused by a combination of technical, operational, and regulatory issues, pointing out that although SIPCOR has an installed capacity of 11.580 MW, only 8.816 MW is contracted to PROSIELCO—short of the island’s 10.51 MW demand.

The DOE has advised PROSIELCO to revise its Power Supply Procurement Plan and Distribution Development Plan, with NEA’s guidance, to begin securing additional power sources.

In the meantime, NEA’s coordination with PALECO to transfer the 2-MW generator is among the immediate solutions being implemented.

The DOE assured that it will continue working with PROSIELCO, SIPCOR, NEA, ERC, and the provincial government to monitor the situation and ensure a stable and reliable power supply for Siquijor. — (FREEMAN)