The League of Cities of the Philippines supports the call of the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILEFDF) urging the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to conduct a thorough investigation as regards the root causes of the power outage in the Panay Island last Tuesday, 2 January 2024. Both institutions must implement corrective measures immediately for the benefit of the affected cities in Panay Island and parts of Negros Occidental. The power outage affected homes, local businesses, industries, and other economic activities.
Power outages, in this day and age, are not only about “no lights” but rather translate to risks and losses in our increasingly connected world, specifically on peace and order and security. Unplanned power outages greatly impact the economic activities in the region and could hamper its growth potential. Sustainable solutions must be explored, debated, and implemented for the residents greatly affected by such inefficiencies. Aside from revenue losses, the power outage disrupted the normal operations of hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructures in the region. The power outage also posed a safety risk to residents, particularly children, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens.
The League is concerned about reports circulating that the power outage was caused by a lack of investments in the country’s power grid or a lack of resources to update the aging grid needed to meet the growing demand for electricity. Providing the community with enough power supply is part of public service centered on improving the lives of the Filipino people.
The League commiserates with the affected residents of the power outage. You deserve better services. We support the 16 cities in the Western Visayas and the position of the LCP National Adviser and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treňas as they dialogue with government agencies in exploring sustainable solutions to this power crisis.
Mayor Michael L. Rama
Cebu City
LCP National President