DAVAO CITY –- Power shortage in Mindanao continues to worsen with hydroelectric plants that generate 70 percent of the island’s power supply scheduled to be shut down in the next couple of days.

The House of Representatives, in a committee hearing Monday, approved a proposal that gives President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the “emergency powers” to solve the crisis.

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However, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) regional corporate executive Edgardo Calabio said calling for a state of emergency in Mindanao would not solve the problem. He instead recommended the expansion of other non-hydro power sources as a long-term solution.

The Mindanao grid continues to experience generation deficiency of up to 390 megawatts (MW) Monday, more than doubling the 156 MW recorded about three weeks ago.

Officials attributed the shortage to limited available capacities from hydro power plants, most of which have water reservoirs that are drying up due to the El Niño phenomenon.

On Monday, the water level of Lake Lanao was reported to be just seven centimeters above the critical level, forcing the power plants tapping energy from it to shut down.

Sources from NGCP said that based on the latest monitoring at 6 a.m. Sunday, Lake Lanao's water level is now at 699.08 meters. Critical level of the lake is pegged at 699.15 meters.

Edgardo Calabio, regional corporate executive of NGCP, said once the water level at the lake reaches 698.15 meters, the power plants will have to be shut down.

Calabio said this is the first time the lake's level has dipped so low very early in the year, and thus, people will have to expect the power shortage will worsen as the summer season enters and makes the already dry season even drier.

The NGCP also noted that there has been an 80 percent reduction in the capabilities of National Power Corporation's (Napocor) Agus Hydroelectric Power Plants.

The Pulangi Plant, also owned by Napocor, likewise experienced 90 percent reduction in capabilities.

Mindanao has 820 MW available capacity versus peak demand of 1,210 MW.

The NGCP said that also contributing to Mindanao's available capacities is the non-availability of Iligan Diesel Power Plant (35 MW) and Power Barge 117 (100 MW).

Emergency powers

To ease the power crisis being experienced throughout the region, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes is pushing that emergency powers be extended upon President Arroyo.

The House, in a committee hearing Monday, supported this call, as it approved the motion urging the President to call for a special session in order for her to be granted with emergency powers that can address the Mindanao energy crisis.

“The President has to do this because there is no other solution... but we have to make sure that there are clear guidelines,” said Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, the main proponent of the motion.

Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga, who led the hearing after committee chairman Pampanga Representative Mikey Arroyo left, said Rodriguez's motion intends to invoke Section 71 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).

For Reyes, this particular section of Epira will enable the government to buy or lease modular generation sets that though “very expensive sources of power” will help compensate for the lack of energy.

Reyes has also called on the President to declare a power crisis in Mindanao.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar, for his part, said the President would look into the advantages and disadvantages of the recommendations.

No need

But for Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao chief Marizon Loreto, there is no need yet for emergency powers to be granted to the President.

"The private sector and the local governments are already taking action to resolve the problem," Loreto said. "What is important is that the people know what is going on and the necessary actions to be done."

He cited the action of the Davao Light and Power Company, which covers the entire Davao City and its neighboring provinces, on tapping the Aboitiz-owned Sibulan Hydro Power Plant by March, generating an additional 21 MW for its franchise area.

The power deficiency that Mindanao has been experiencing is also being felt in the Visayas and Luzon areas.

NGCP said the Visayas grid is still encountering power shortage after its generation deficiency of 45 MW remains unresolved.

Salcon Power's Cebu Thermal Power Plant Unit 1 is operational and already loaded with 48 MW but Unit 2, with a rated capacity of 55 MW, is under preventive maintenance shutdown. Estimated completion date of maintenance works is on March 7.

As of Monday, the Visayas grid’s available capacity was placed at 1,133 MW as compared to peak demand of 1,178 MW.

The Luzon grid, on the other hand, has zero reserves now and even posted higher generation deficiency than the Mindanao grid. Last week, it has more than 700 MW reserve.

With this, Metro Manila residents will suffer two to three hours power outages starting Monday after two major power plants supplying the Luzon grid were also shut down.

In a report, the NGCP said the shutdown of Unit 1 of the 1,000-MW Sual coal-fired power plant and the Unit 1 of the 600-MW Masinloc coal-fired power facility resulted in the generation deficiency in the Luzon grid by 478 MW.

“Outages lasting two to three hours will be experienced by Luzon grid's load customers,” NGCP said.

It advised Manila and Luzon residents to coordinate directly with their respective distribution utilities and electric cooperatives for information on the power interruption schedule and list of specific areas that will experience temporary power outage. (CPM/BSS/Angela Casauay/MSN/JMR/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)