The Visayas power grid could face supply shortfalls for one to two years, the Department of Energy said on June 1.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin stated at a press briefing that new power plants and transmission lines will take time to match rising demand. She noted the difficulty in aligning project timelines, with some plants requiring three to five years to build. The department reported 17 yellow alerts and four red alerts in the Visayas between May 12 and June 1. Peak demand reached over 2,700 megawatts while supply dropped to as low as 2,044 megawatts during this period. Several plants remain offline, including Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2, expected back in late August. The DOE plans to add at least 150 megawatts of temporary capacity through power barges and battery storage. Garin highlighted the region's 45 percent renewable energy share but stressed the need for more baseload and mid-merit power sources.