Visayas grid remains normal but...

CEBU, Philippines — The Visayas grid remains under normal operations but continues to face the possibility of yellow alerts in the coming weeks as authorities work to improve reserve capacity, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

During a virtual press briefing on Monday, DOE Undersecretary for Energy Policy and Power Industry Management Mario Marasigan said both the Luzon and Mindanao grids are expected to continue operating normally, with sufficient energy supply and reserve levels.

For the Visayas, Marasigan said the grid is also operating normally but remains under close monitoring due to recurring supply constraints.

“We are still seeing the possibility of yellow alerts in the Visayas,” he said, noting that while yellow alerts were issued on weekdays last week, they were managed without resorting to manual load dropping.

The DOE expects the situation to improve by the end of the month with the completion of immediate interventions, including the installation of a 40-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) in Leyte.

Marasigan said the planned battery energy storage capacity in Cebu was reduced by Aboitiz from 30 megawatts to 10 megawatts, but additional capacity from Panay is expected to augment the Visayas power supply.

He said the DOE is also consolidating offers for additional reserve and ancillary service capacities to strengthen grid reliability in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the DOE reported that off-grid island systems, including Catanduanes, Sorsogon, the entire island of Mindoro, Siquijor, and Palawan, remain in good operating condition.

The department is also developing master plans for the power systems of Mindoro and Panay, beginning with grid reconfiguration and consultations with stakeholders and local government units. It is likewise studying the interconnection of selected off-grid areas to further enhance the country's power network.

Marasigan also reported significant progress under Task Force 200, with 26 of the 45 energy projects already completed, adding 1,674.28 megawatts of new generation capacity.

In addition, 11 battery energy storage facilities with a combined capacity of 209.638 megawatts have already been completed.

Of the 25 priority energy projects targeted for the first semester, 12 have already reached commercial operation, contributing 385.177 megawatts to the grid, while the remaining 13 are undergoing testing, commissioning, and final permitting.

Marasigan also highlighted the progress of the MTerra Solar Project, or the Meralco Terra (MTerra) Solar Project, whose Phase 1 was inaugurated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, on July 14, 2026.

He said the project's testing capacity increased from an initial 250 megawatts to 750 megawatts during the inauguration, with plans to raise testing capacity further to 1,350 megawatts by the end of the month following the completion of additional system studies and safety clearances.

Despite these developments, Marasigan said the DOE will continue closely monitoring the Visayas grid as it works to prevent further yellow alerts and maintain grid stability. — /IHM (FREEMAN)