ALL HANDS ON DECK: During the meeting, Energy Undersecretary Emmanuel P. Juaneza asked the participants to align and harmonize all their respective Preventive Maintenance Schedules (PMS) for the year. 

He said this move will help ensure sufficient and stable power delivery during the summer months, and in anticipation of the rollout of COVID-19 Vaccines in the VisMin area.

TAGUIG CITY - Following the directive of Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, the Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday (17 February) convened the power stakeholders in Visayas and Mindanao (VisMin) to ensure sufficient and stable power supply, as the country braces for the summer months and the rollout of the government's COVID-19 vaccine program.

Organized by the DOE-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB), the coordination meeting tackled the VisMin Power Outlook for 2021 and the possible issues that may affect the power situation in the two regions. 

During the meeting, Energy Undersecretary Emmanuel P. Juaneza, Assistant Secretary Redentor E. Delola, and DOE-EPIMB Director Mario C. Marasigan addressed the concerns of the generation companies of VisMin (GenCos), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Energy Regulatory Commission, National Power Corporation, Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, and the National Transmission Corporation.

“The Secretary’s directive to us has been very clear from the start. We need to stretch all our resources without compromising the quality of our work to achieve a stable power situation throughout the year,” Undersecretary Juaneza mentioned in his opening remarks. 

“This is critical during the summer months, but most especially, we have to do our best in ensuring that the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines nationwide will be unhampered,” he added.

Secretary Cusi has earlier required all the Distribution Utilities (DUs) to ensure reliable electricity supply during the vaccination rollout. 

For his part, Assistant Secretary Delola reminded the energy family of their role in “protecting and preserving the vaccines”, which are expected to arrive in the Philippines by the end of the first quarter.

“So, it is very important for us to prepare for the expected increase in demand in the coming months. Summer is coming and more importantly, the government will be rolling out the nationwide vaccination program,” he stressed.

The NGCP presented the 2021 VisMin Power Outlook, where they assured the DOE that there are ample power supply and reserve based on the DOE forecast and submitted power plant maintenance schedules. 

According to Undersecretary Juaneza, the GenCos should look into strategizing their scheduled outages to accommodate the demand of power supply during the vaccine rollout and the summer season. 

“There is really a need to align maintenance schedules and activities to assure our VisMin consumers of supply stability. As the need in the power supply arises, we cannot afford to have disruptions especially in the facilities that will store the vaccines,” he added.

The DOE, as directed by Secretary Cusi, will continue to coordinate with the power stakeholders, operators and the GenCos to take a holistic approach in addressing the power needs of the country.

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