Congress asked to probe Mindanao blackouts

MANILA, Philippines – Mindanao Development Authority chair Lualhati Antonino urged Congress yesterday to conduct an investigation into the series of power outages in the region in recent weeks.

Antonino said the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is limiting the amount of power that enters the grid.

“There are still reserves of about 65 megawatts (MW) that can be used to avoid brownouts,” Antonino said at the weekly Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel media forum.

“The Polangi hydroelectric plant has 225 MW capacity, but the NGCP only allows 180 MW to enter the grid. They do not allow the remaining 45 MW. That is why I’m requesting an investigation,” the former Anak Mindanano party-list representative said.

She said they also found that the Agus 2 hydroelectric power plant, located in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur, can produce up to 150 MW but is only allowed to contribute 130 MW to the grid.

“I do not want to accuse NGCP of favoring private providers. That’s why I’m pushing for congressional inquiry into what I feel isn’t right,” she added.

The NGCP, for its part, maintained that the power outages were due to the shortage of power in the region, and not transmission-related.

Former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to temporarily deploy additional power barges in affected areas.

Zubiri, who hails from Bukidnon, warned of eight-hour daily blackouts in Mindanao during summer.

The former senator sought the use of the P2-billion renewable energy trust fund to grant perks to entities willing to bring in new biomass, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and/or ocean power supplies, exclusively for Mindanao, in six to 18 months.