Consumer Advocacy Group Demands Transparent Energy Plan for Visayas Region
The Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services, widely known as Access, has officially added its voice to the growing chorus demanding a clear and comprehensive energy roadmap for the Visayas region. This urgent call comes in direct response to alarming projections from the Department of Energy and warnings from other consumer rights organizations.
Warnings of an Impending Power Crisis by 2026
Wennie Sancho, the president of Access, highlighted that their advocacy aligns with recent alerts issued by the Cebu Electricity Rights Advocates. Cera has cautioned that Cebu is poised to enter a "critical energy" phase as early as 2026. Sancho explained that this concern was amplified following a Department of Energy forecast, which indicates a potential power crunch across the entire Visayas within the next two years.
Sancho further elaborated on the DOE's earlier warnings, noting that increasing energy consumption coupled with delays in constructing new power plants could render Cebu and its neighboring islands vulnerable to significant supply instability. This precarious situation has reportedly prompted business groups within the manufacturing and export sectors to raise alarms over escalating energy costs and production delays caused by an unreliable power supply.
Coordinated Advocacy and Proposed Solutions
In response to these developments, Sancho announced plans to convene with members of the Alliance of Consumers in Northern Negros. The meeting aims to discuss the implications of the energy forecast and to solidify support for a proposed joint venture agreement between Negros Power and the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative Inc.
Sancho also pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the Cebu-Negros-Panay Interconnection Project, which is being implemented in stages. This critical project is designed to strengthen the backbone of the Visayas grid and enhance inter-island energy sharing capabilities, offering a partial solution to the region's energy challenges.
A Unified Call for Transparency and Action
Access, in collaboration with Power Watch Negros Advocates, has joined Cera in urging both the Department of Energy and local utility providers to publish a transparent, time-bound energy roadmap for the wider Visayas Region. They cite the five-year Development Plan successfully implemented by Negros Power in Central Negros as a potential model for such a strategy.
"Access is strongly urging the local government of northern Negros to expedite the proposed partnership or joint venture agreement between Negros Power and Noneco," Sancho emphasized. This move is seen as a crucial step to prepare for potential "dark days ahead" should power supplies indeed fall short by the projected 2026 timeline.
