Palace: Conserve energy as 2-hour summer brownouts loom

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is urging the public to conserve energy to counter the possible shortage of power supply in Luzon this summer.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the government will continue to push for the adoption of aggressive energy conservation measures to address the looming energy crisis.

"It is hoped that with the adoption of these contingency measures, and with full public support, the possibility of rotating two-hour brownouts in Luzon, projected as the worst-case scenario, may be minimized," Coloma told Palace reporters.

These measures will be implemented, Coloma said, while the government is closely working with Congress in threshing out issues regarding the enactment of joint resolution that would allow President Aquino to address the feared power shortage.

In a speech at the launch of the Pagbilao III Power Plant project last year, Aquino asked Congress to pass a joint resolution that would authorize the national government to contract an additional generating capacity to avert the projected 300-megawatt energy supply deficit this year.

READ: Aquino wants more gov't power to avert energy crisis

But while awaiting the joint resolution, Coloma said the government will continue to support private companies that plan to use their own generators as an alternative power source under the Department of Energy (DOE)'s Interruptible Load Program.

Coloma said the DOE continues to monitor closely the energy supply situation, in view of the start of the annual maintenance of the Malampaya power plant.