Power players assure ample energy supply

CEBU - To ensure continuous energy supply and meet the high demand for electricity in Cebu and other parts of the Visayas, stakeholders in the electric power industry signed a covenant of cooperation during the last day of the two-day Energy Summit yesterday.

The signatories of the covenant include the Department of Energy, the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Panay and Negros Oriental, and several business groups including the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The stakeholders agreed to duly cooperate in ensuring that there will be adequate and reliable supply of electric power in the Visayas Region.

They will cooperate and assist in resolving power emergency situation in the Visayas area and work out schemes to achieve this purpose.

They also agreed on specific timelines and deliveries in implementing the schemes or programs considered including but not limited to the obligations as stipulated under the circular of DOE.

The DOE circular that was also approved yesterday has directed DOE attached agencies, all electric power industry participants, consumers and various stakeholders to adopt and implement contingency measures to ensure adequate and reliable power supply in the Visayas grid.

Earlier, the National Power Corporation said that Cebu and other parts of the Visayas region are expected to experience daily brownouts this year because the supply could no longer meet the increasing demand for electricity.

The National Transmission Corporation has announced that there will be an increase of 5.6 percent in the demand for electricity this year. —Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)