DOE: Blackouts, higher power bills loom amid El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos could face more frequent power outages and higher electricity bills as the country braces for the impact of a “super El Niño,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin warned yesterday.

Prolonged periods of extreme heat could strain coal-fired power plants and deplete water resources needed by hydroelectric facilities, she noted.

“I don’t want to be a doomsayer, but I just want to be very transparent about this,” Garin said on the sidelines of the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is working with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to monitor the electricity spot market and prevent potential abuse by industry players.

In August, electricity spot prices in the Visayas and Mindanao surged to nearly P20 per kilowatt-hour before the ERC intervened to mitigate the rates.

These challenges come as the Philippines continues to grapple with an ongoing energy emergency brought by the Middle East conflict.

Amid these concerns, Garin appealed to the public to conserve electricity and practice energy-saving measures.

106 cities, towns in state of calamity

Around 106 cities and towns in five regions are under a state of calamity due to El Niño, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

The NDRRMC said affected localities include 66 in Cagayan Valley, 23 in Caraga, 12 in Bicol and one in Soccsksargen.

Damage to agriculture has reached over P5.4 billion especially in Cagayan Valley, where current losses stand at over P4.9 billion.

In the Davao Region, losses are over P410 million; Bicol, P37.4 million; Caraga, P22 million; Calabarzon, P19.7 million and Soccsksargen, P12.5 million.

Up to 388,375 people nationwide are affected by El Niño.

As of Oct. 2, there were 39 wild, forest or mountain fires in various areas in Caraga.

More than P39 million worth of food and non-food aid have been provided to 24,618 families, the NDRRMC said.

The Philippine National Police has implemented measures to protect PNP personnel from extreme heat.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. yesterday reminded police commanders to ensure their personnel have access to drinking water and appropriate protective gear.

Police unit heads must review deployment plans and consider rotational shifts to limit exposure to extreme temperatures, Nartatez said.

The Department of Health is distributing to local government units El Niño toolkits, which contain information on what illnesses to monitor while El Niño persists until next year.

Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said heat stroke, dengue, cholera and typhoid are on an upward trend during El Niño.

Task force

In Muntinlupa, Mayor Ruffy Biazon has revived the city’s El Niño task force to prepare for the impact of the “very strong” climate phenomenon.

“We’re still not sure about its effects, but it’s important that we are prepared,” Biazon said yesterday.

The task force will monitor areas susceptible to possible water shortages, extreme heat, fire and power interruptions. — Michael Punongbayan, Emmanuel Tupas, Rhodina Villanueva, EJ Macababbad, Allen de Guzman