MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian has launched a legislative push to investigate the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) over the grid alerts and rotational blackouts that occurred recently in Luzon and Visayas.
Through Senate Resolution 425, Gatchalian called for a senate inquiry into the cause of the widespread electricity interruptions.
The lawmaker noted that the Visayas grid was placed under red alert for about 22 interval hours and yellow alert for 93 interval hours, while the Luzon grid recorded 27 interval hours of red alert and 5.5 interval hours of yellow alert.
Gatchalian warned that a looming weather disturbance could further threaten the country's energy stability, stating that projections of a strengthening El Niño phenomenon late this year until January next year could worsen the power-supply gap.
According to the NGCP, a red alert indicates that the power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and the grid’s regulating requirement, while a yellow alert is raised when the operating margin fails to meet contingency requirements.
The power grid operator previously clarified that its mandate is limited to transmitting power, maintaining that it can only distribute electricity if generation companies have enough available supply.
Gatchalian explained that the senate inquiry aims to determine the true state of the country's power supply, evaluate grid reliability, and hold erring energy stakeholders accountable for any operational lapses.
“We need a clear explanation, immediate action, and accountability from the authorities,” the lawmaker emphasized.
The senator added that the probe seeks to ensure generation companies adhere to industry standards, enforce energy laws strictly, and craft effective government interventions, including demand-side management measures.
The Senate push follows a separate joint investigation conducted last May 13, by the House Committee on Energy and the Committee on Legislative Franchises regarding the same power crisis.
Power supply in both grids returned to normal on May 16, days after rotational outages on May 13 left about 2.1 million consumers without electricity for at least three hours.
Written by Jasmine Parohinog
Jasmine Parohinog is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
