President Ferdinand R.Marcos Jr. on Friday has directed the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to make swift action on the completion of the rate reset review for system operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), following the island-wide blackout that gripped Western Visayas since January 2.
The chief executive also ordered to ensure that NGCP continues to abide with its statutory and regulatory obligations.
“I have also directed the ERC to complete the reset of NGCP’s rates without further delay, to ensure NGCP’s compliance with its statutory and regulatory obligations, and to defend in no uncertain terms against any attempt to defer, delay, or prevent the implementation of regulatory measures,” President Marcos said in a video message.
The President lamented that while power has been restored, the situation has caused significant hardship to residents, crippling businesses, compromising livelihoods and endangering those in need of healthcare.
This is the second time that Panay Island experienced a prolonged power interruption in less than a year.
President Marcos recounted NGCP’s commitment to the timely completion of the Mindanao-Visayas and Panay-Negros-Cebu interconnections last year. The completion of the project remains pending.
“Accountability lies with the NGCP. They are tasked with grid stability. Stability involves proactive responses to breakdowns and unexpected events, a duty that NGCP unfortunately has not fulfilled adequately,” President Marcos said.
“NGCP’s failure to act during the crucial two-hour window is a missed opportunity. As the systems operator, NGCP must proactively engage with distribution utilities and cooperatives to manage loads and prevent such system collapses,” he said.
President Marcos called on the NGCP to proactively engage with distribution utilities and cooperatives to manage loads and prevent system collapse.
The President reiterated his call on the NGCP “to be transparent to its stakeholders, utilities and regulators, acknowledge its responsibility and be transparent in identifying weaknesses in transmission systems.”
The President stressed the government is committed to resolve the situation and prevent the same incident from happening in the future. PND
