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The Department of Energy says Siquijor’s power demand is 10.5 MW, but the contracted supply is only 8.8 MW
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) said on Monday, June 9, it has launched an investigation into the worsening power crisis in Siquijor and is accelerating plans to connect the island province to the main power grid.
In a statement, the DOE said it is working closely with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and other government agencies to find viable and immediate solutions.
Siquijor, which remains off-grid, is among the islands identified for future interconnection under the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) 2024-2050 Transmission Development Plan (TDP).
The DOE’s 2023–2032 National Total Electrification Roadmap includes energizing 1.4 million households in off-grid areas, with Siquijor among the priorities. Other major off-grid islands include Palawan and Mindoro in Luzon, and Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Balut Island, Sulu, and Sarangani in Mindanao.
The plan includes a proposed link from Siquijor to Bacong, Negros Oriental, through a 20-kilometer submarine cable and a 24-kilometer overhead transmission line. No timeline, however, has been finalized.
The DOE’s Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB) said Siquijor’s inclusion in the interconnection pipeline is a step toward long-term energy security for the island.
The power crisis has prompted the Siquijor provincial government to declare a state of calamity. Governor Jake Vincent Villa said the outages have worsened since May, with some areas experiencing daily blackouts lasting up to 22 hours.
Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SI Power), a subsidiary of Villar-led Prime Asset Ventures Inc., operates the island’s diesel-fired power plant under a 25-year power supply agreement with the Province of Siquijor Island Electric Cooperative (Prosielco) signed in 2015.
The DOE initially said Siquijor’s current power demand stands at 10.511 megawatts (MW), but the contracted supply is only 8.816 MW, creating a supply gap.
In a statement, SI Power said it had completed maintenance on one of its generator units, boosting output by 7.559 kilowatts. Another unit is undergoing evaluation and is expected to be operational by midweek. A rented generator set is also being deployed to address the shortfall.
“While repair is ongoing, an additional generator set has been rented to cover the supply shortage and to gradually restore power within the week,” the company said.
As of Monday, electricity in the towns of Siquijor, Larena, and San Juan has been restored for about four hours daily. Lazi now enjoys nearly full-day supply, while Maria and Enrique Villanueva continue to suffer 15-hour blackouts.
Provincial administrator and tourism officer Dale Tudtud warned that the outages are threatening Siquijor’s tourism, which drew 1.3 million visitors in 2024.
“These nonstop brownouts take away the magical experience of Siquijor. First impressions last, and we worry this will turn tourists off,” Tudtud said.
Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez, Department of Tourism director for Western Visayas and Negros Island, echoed the concern, saying the outages have severely affected residents, businesses, and the island’s tourism industry.
She urged the DOE to adopt “immediate yet long-term” solutions.
SI Power acknowledged the disruptions and assured residents that it was “working diligently to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.” It said the problem about the power shortage was due to Siquijor’s “increasing demand for power brought on by the growing economy, continued and rising population in the province.” – Rappler.com
