Power supply in Panay island is now back to normal after Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC), a power plant in Concepcion town, Iloilo Province gets reconnected to the Panay grid offering a load capacity of 135 megawatts.

The stabilization of power supply started at noontime of January 5, 2024. 

Establishments have started using generators to sustain operations in around four days of massive power outages.  

In the latest advisory of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), served load in Panay is at 350 megawatts after PCPC got reconnected to the Panay grid. 

“As of the moment si PCPC they’re the ones sending us the power. Newly produced to bring back to the grid at 80 MW. It’s a process  ang pag-stabilize sa side nila by increments, hindi siya pwede na direkta ipasok ang 135MW in one swing,” Reagahn Alcantara, lead specialist of NGCP’s Public Relations Department, said. 

Six substations of More Power, an electric distribution utility, in Iloilo City are fully restored at about the same time PCPC got back to the grid. 

The Iloilo Electric Cooperative released a statement that all its feeders in all of its franchise areas are also energized. 

Electric power supply is also 100-percent restored in other affected areas in Panay, according to Capiz Electric Cooperative (Capelco), Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco), Antique Electric Cooperative (Anteco), and Guimaras Electric Cooperative (Guimelco).

However, residents have expressed apprehensions on the stability of power supply because of the latest statement made by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas who is still unhappy despite the resumption of power.

Treñas said that he has not heard of any substantial solution offered by officials of the energy sector in their virtual meeting along with other local chief executives in Western Visayas on January 4, 2024. 

“This happened eight months ago, this can happen again next month, this can happen next week…lahat tayo dito nagtitiis,” the mayor stated.

A congressional inquiry is imminent after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri issued a statement that he is “incensed” by the power crisis.

Senator Raffy Tulfo, Senate Committee on Energy chairperson, also pointed out the unscheduled power interruptions that dragged on for nearly four days are unacceptable.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. stated over GMA-7’s “24 Oras” newscast on January 5, 2024 that “accountability lies with NGCP.”

NGCP wiill face legislative investigation, according to Atty. Cynthia Alabanza, NGCP spokesperson and head of public relations. 

“Kami po ay handing magpaliwanang dala po ang datos sa aming sistema at yung katotohanan na nakikita namin doon sa records namin. Ang hinihiling lang siguro namin na maging objective ang pagtingin at pag-imbestiga,” Alabanza said.