CEBU — The Cebu Provincial Government is pressing for faster development of new power generation projects and will host a Cebu Energy Summit on October 7, 2026. Governor Pamela Baricuatro convened energy officials, grid operators, and distribution utilities on September 4 to address the rotational brownouts affecting the province.
A Supply Deficit That Threatens Growth
Cebu's daily peak demand has reached about 1,300 megawatts, representing half of the Visayas' total demand of around 2,600 megawatts. However, power plants within the province produce only about 900 megawatts, forcing Cebu to import at least 300 megawatts daily from Mindanao and neighboring provinces.
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines Assistant Vice President Neil Modena explained that the shortage stems largely from major power plants undergoing planned or forced outages. Repairs often take time because spare parts must be ordered from abroad. Distribution utilities have implemented manual load dropping to prevent a total blackout, which could take days to restore.
New Projects in the Pipeline
The provincial government has been facilitating additional power projects. Among these is the ACCIONA solar project in Daanbantayan, a 150-megawatt facility being developed in partnership with the Capitol. Provincial Administrator Ace Durano reported that site preparations have begun, with the target online date set for late 2027 or early 2028.
Another project is the Alternergy wind energy project in Alegria. The Capitol has also sought updates on the redevelopment of the Alegria oil and gas field. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved Petroleum Service Contract 89 in April, allowing development and production after years of dormancy.
Malapascua Transition and Executive Order
Governor Baricuatro signed Executive Order No. 48, creating a technical working group for the transition of the provincial government's interim power generation operations on Malapascua Island. The province assumed interim generation in August 2024 after the previous provider ceased operations, deploying four generator sets.
The working group will assess existing systems and assets, review regulatory requirements, and evaluate possible successor operators. These include the National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group, Cebu II Electric Cooperative, and authorized microgrid providers. No turnover may proceed until the successor's legal authority, technical readiness, and capacity are established.
A Summit for Long-Term Solutions
The October 7 energy summit will bring together the energy sector, government, business, investors, and other stakeholders. The goal is to discuss Cebu's long-term electricity requirements and chart a path toward a more reliable and sustainable supply.
Although electricity generation, transmission, and distribution are not under the provincial government's jurisdiction, the Capitol sees its role as convening stakeholders and advocating for the province's needs. Governor Baricuatro assured Cebuanos that the province will continue pushing for sufficient energy supply.
