FOLLOWING a 13-day brownout in Siargao Island caused by damaged submarine cables, the Cebu Electricity Rights Advocates (Cera) has called for immediate investment in local power plants to improve energy security and reduce Cebu’s dependence on external power sources.
In a statement, the group led by Nathaniel Chua, Cera’s chief convenor, said without these urgent investments in local energy infrastructure, Cebu’s economy remains vulnerable to future power disruptions.
The 100-member group said the damaged submarine cables powering Siargao highlighted the vulnerability of the Philippines’ power infrastructure which already resulted in substantial economic losses, particularly in the island’s tourism industry.
The power outage in Siargao mirrored similar challenges faced by Iloilo City earlier this year, where P500 million in economic losses were recorded daily during a month-long brownout.
Cera warned that this could happen to Cebu if there are no new investments in the power sector.
The group noted that Cebu currently depends heavily on power sourced from Mindanao and neighboring islands through submarine cables, leaving the region vulnerable to similar disruptions.
The group stressed ripple effects of power outages extend beyond economic loss. Essential services, such as water supply and transportation, were disrupted, with gas stations unable to operate. Hospitals also faced operational risks, relying on generators instead of stable power from distribution utilities.
Cebu’s tourism sector is at risk, as unreliable electricity creates significant inconveniences for tourists.
In a recent power forum, Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan said Cebu is unlikely to face power issues in the next two years.
However, he emphasized that to secure a stable, self-sustaining energy supply in the long term, Cebu needs to develop new power generation projects. / KOC