Massive power outage on Panay Island prompts Senate probe

MANILA, Philippines — At least three senators are set to file separate resolutions to investigate the recent power interruptions in the country.

Senator Raffy Tulfo said he those behind the massive power outage in parts of Western Visayas must be held accountable.

“Bilang chairperson ng Senate committee on energy, lubos kong ikinababahala ang kalbaryong dinaranas ng mga residente ng Panay na apektado ang pamumuhay ngayong bagong taon dahil sa power outage roon,” Tulfo said in a statement on Thursday.

(As chairperson of the Senate committee on energy, I am deeply concerned about the ordeal being experienced by the residents of Panay whose lives were affected by the power outage at the beginning of this new year.)

According to the senator, he is currently coordinating with concerned government agencies and monitoring the situation in the affected areas to ensure the immediate solution to the problem.

“Maghahain din ako ng Senate Resolution upang imbestigahan at mapanagot ang mga nasa likod ng hindi katanggap-tanggap na power outage na ito sa Panay island,” Tulfo said.

(I will also file a Senate Resolution to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for this unacceptable power outage in Panay Island.)

Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Sherwin Gatchalian said they would also lodge separate measures to investigate this power outage.

“I will file a resolution seeking for an investigation on that issue kasi NGCP na naman ang involved. NGCP na naman, sabi nila NGCP—para maliwanagan natin kung ano ba talaga, bakit nagkaganun?” Dela Rosa said in a Zoom interview with reporters.

(I will file a resolution seeking an investigation on that issue because NGCP is involved again. According to them, it’s NGCP again—so we need to clarify what really happened, why did it happen like that?)

NGCP, though, said on Wednesday that the power outage in the affected areas was primarily due to “unscheduled maintenance shutdowns of the largest power plants in Panay Island.”

“The people must understand that we can only transmit power; we do not generate power,” it pointed out in a statement.

READ: NGCP asserts need for better resource planning after Panay power outage

In seeking a Senate probe, Gatchalian hopes to see new policy recommendations to prevent the same power interruptions from happening in the future.

“I will immediately file a resolution to investigate this matter and to propose policy recommendations to prevent power disruptions in the future,” he said in a statement to reporters.

While supporting calls for a probe, Senator Francis Escudero said this should not be limited to NGCP only.

The investigation, he said, should include distribution companies as well as power generation plants that shut down without adequate notice.

“Power has three components— generation, transmission, and distribution. All three must be looked into in order to have a complete picture – not simply do finger-pointing – of how to prevent a similar occurrence from happening again in the future,” Escudero explained in a separate message to reporters.

Senator Grace Poe, head of the Senate committee on public services, found the widespread power outage unacceptable.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na nangangapa na naman sa dilim ang ating mga kababayan sa Panay Island,” Poe said.

(It’s unacceptable that the residents of Panay Island will once again struggle their way in the dark.)