The Visayas region is grappling with a severe power crisis that has led to rotational brownouts and threatens local economies. In response, a lawmaker has called for a congressional investigation to determine why the power grid keeps failing and who should be held accountable.
Business leaders warn that constant electricity shortages are putting local industries, jobs, and overall economic growth at serious risk.
Lawmaker Demands Clear Answers
Negros Oriental Third District Representative Janice Degamo has officially filed House Resolution 1114, urging the House Committee on Energy to launch an inquiry into the region's repeated grid alerts, power cuts, and sudden shutdowns of several power plants. The investigation aims to uncover the root causes of these disruptions and find ways to secure the region's energy supply.
“This situation demands clear answers. The public deserves to know why this keeps happening, what is being done to fix it, and who must be held accountable,” Degamo said in a statement on June 11, 2026.
Degamo noted that rotational power interruptions have been ongoing for more than a month, affecting households, schools, hospitals, businesses, and government offices across the Visayas. “The power outages affect our homes, our schools, our hospitals, our businesses, our government services, and the daily lives of ordinary Filipino families,” she added.
Power Grid Under Constant Strain
The crisis remains an everyday reality for residents. On June 17, 2026, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Visayas Grid under a "yellow alert" from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., indicating dangerously low buffer supply. Available power capacity was 2,550 megawatts (MW), barely covering peak demand of 2,478 MW. Several power plants were either shut down or running at reduced capacity, leaving the region short by nearly 984.8 MW.
These supply limits are causing deep concern among business groups, especially in Cebu, where large manufacturing and tourism industries depend on stable electricity.
‘No More Talk, We Need Action’
While business leaders agree on the need for accountability, they urge the government to move past discussions and focus on building new power projects quickly. Carl Cabusas, president of the Talisay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the fundamental problem is already obvious: electricity demand is growing faster than supply.
“While any effort to address the recurring power outages in the Visayas is welcome, I believe we have already spent too much time on congressional inquiries and investigations that have produced very little in terms of concrete solutions,” Cabusas said. “These hearings consume valuable time and public resources, yet the fundamental problem has long been known... The conversation should now move beyond identifying the problem and focus on solving it.”
For the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), the power grid alerts pose a severe threat to Mandaue City, one of Cebu’s biggest industrial hubs. MCCI president Barbara “Bambi” Gothong-Tan explained that frequent power cuts disrupt factory production and drive up operational costs.
“If these power supply issues persist, they could contribute to higher prices of goods and services, disrupt supply chains, discourage investments, and ultimately affect employment generation and economic growth in the region,” Gothong said. “We support the call for a congressional inquiry to identify the root causes of these recurring grid alerts and to ensure accountability among all stakeholders in the power sector.”
Long-Term Solutions
To fix the crisis for good, business leaders believe the government must focus on two main areas:
- Diversifying Energy Sources: Cabusas urged policymakers to boost power production through a mix of conventional energy, solar, wind, or even nuclear power. He stressed that reliable and affordable electricity is vital for investor confidence.
- Faster Infrastructure Upgrades: Gothong called for quicker implementation of power transmission projects. She urged the Department of Energy (DOE), the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and the NGCP to work closer together and speed up the permitting process for new power projects.
Why This Matters
Ultimately, having reliable and affordable power is essential to sustaining business growth and supporting daily life across Cebu and the wider Visayas region. The success of this new government push will depend entirely on whether officials can cut through red tape, attract private investors, and successfully build new power sources before the region's energy shortages get even worse.
