TAGUIG CITY – Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has directed its Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) and the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB) to ensure unimpeded delivery of energy services, as the National Capital Region (NCR) and other nearby provinces were placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with additional restrictions from 22 March until 4 April 2021.

The Energy chief also designated DOE’s Task Force Energy Resiliency (TFER) Chairperson, Undersecretary Alexander S. Lopez, as the Department’s OIC-alternate representative for the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“Kami po sa DOE ay sisiguraduhin ang tuluy-tuloy na serbisyong enerhiya hindi lamang sa mga GCQ areas, kundi sa buong Pilipinas. Patuloy natin titiyakin na may sapat na supply ng kuryente at langis, upang sa ganun, patuloy din ang pag-usad ng ating ekonomiya laban sa hamon ng COVID-19,” Secretary Cusi emphasized.

Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday (21 March) approved the recommendation of the IATF to place NCR and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under GCQ with additional measures. 

Under the two-week period, among the additional measures introduced by the IATF is the concept of the “NCR Plus” bubble, where going in and out of Metro Manila and the four provinces will be limited to essential travels only. The delivery of basic goods and services, however, should not be affected.

Secretary Cusi’s directive to the OIMB and the EPIMB was contained in a memorandum dated 23 March 2021.

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