Guv urged to act on power supply problem at Malapascua

CEBU, Philippines — Following years of raising complaints on the unstable power supply in Malapascua Island, Daanbantayan Cebu, residents and members of the business community have asked Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to take immediate action against the electricity provider.

In a meeting at the Capitol last June 19 at the Capitol, the residents and members of the Malapascua Business Association (MBA) said they are considering on ending the power service engagement with PowerSource Philippines Inc. (PSPI) due to its failure to provide stable power supply in the island, which is one of Cebu’s top tourist destinations.

According to Sugbo News, the official Facebook page of the Provincial Government, the local government unit (LGU) of Daanbantayan and MBA petitioned Garcia to give necessary measures against PSPI, including the possibility of terminating its services.

Anna Reed, president of MBA, enumerated the lapses of PSPI from 2019, including how the power crisis in the island has been affecting the lives and livelihood of the residents.

“The recurring issues include frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations,” said Reed, as mentioned in the post of Sugbo News.

Garcia, for her part, told PSPI executive Carlos Cervantes that PSPI’s service does not match the province’s performance.

“It has continued all through these years, and that is where my responsibility lies because I have to do something in order to alleviate the situation. And if a continuing partnership is what you are offering, I’m sorry, I cannot even consider you a partner of the Province because that’s not the way we operate,” Gov. Gwen told Cervantes.

Last month, Garcia had four generator sets installed in the island to help provide additional electricity supply.

Garcia had stressed that she saw the need for the Capitol to intervene after PSPI failed to address the residents’ complaints.

During the meeting last Wednesday, CEBECO II, led by General Manager Lowell Belcina, and National Power Corp., represented by Visayas head Timoteo Diacor, also expressed their disappointment with PSPI.

Belcina and Diacor informed the governor that they have raised their concerns with their management and are still waiting for the final decision.

Also present during the meeting were Department of Energy Visayas Field Office Inspector lawyer Barrytone Busi; National Electrification Administration Engineering Department Director Federico Villar; and Daanbantayan Municipal Administrator Mamerto Rodrigo.

PSPI has been supplying electricity service to Malapascua as a qualified third party provider since 2009, while CEBECO II is the exclusive franchise holder in the island, as well as for other towns in the fourth and fifth districts of Cebu.

CEBECO II has waived its right to provide service in Malapascua in favor of PSPI, declaring Malapascua as a remote and unviable area.

On July 3,2024, the parties are scheduled to meet again to present their official positions on the matter. – Kristin de Dios/ATO (CEBU NEWS)