On average, about 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility each year, with eight to nine of them making landfall. One of them was Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Opong (international name Bualoi), which made landfall in Palanas, Masbate, at 4 a.m. on September 26, 2025, placing the province under a state of calamity. […]
Visayan Electric Co., the Philippines’ second-largest distribution utility, is boosting investments to improve Cebu’s power reliability. The company is advancing network upgrades, implementing digital monitoring technologies, and implementing other service improvements to meet the growing demand across its franchise area. (Also read: Visayas Faces Higher Costs Amid Power Strain) Ongoing improvements According to Nico Arancillo, […]
Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co., has enlisted two Chinese companies to kick off the first phase of its 49-megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system (BESS) in Toledo, Cebu. The facility will store excess electricity and release it when demand rises, helping stabilize supply and improve grid efficiency. MGen […]
A series of yellow alerts declared by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in the Visayas from August 1 to 6 could push up electricity prices in the region, MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) warned. A yellow alert is issued when power reserves dip below safe levels needed to cover demand. […]
A 49-hour power outage plunged Malay, home to Boracay, and the neighboring municipality of Buruanga into darkness, highlighting the vulnerability of the country’s premier tourist hotspot to energy disruptions. According to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Malay has a population of 64,723, while Buruanga has 19,878 residents. The blackout began on […]
On August 29, the Department of Energy and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) formally declared that Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR) would halt its operations. SIPCOR is the private, Villar Group-owned company that held a 20-year diesel-generator power supply agreement (PSA) with the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative (Prosielco), acting as the island’s sole centralized […]
Iloilo is rapidly carving out a central role in the Philippines’ renewable energy (RE) landscape, having secured more than 1,300 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind projects across the province. The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Visayas Field Office highlighted the province’s growing influence in the nation’s shift toward sustainable power sources. This milestone was mentioned during […]
Beginning in August, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will impose an increase of up to 13 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in transmission charges. The adjustment, approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), is tied to an earlier under-recovery and will be collected over 84 months until mid-2032, according to NCGP Assistant Vice […]
Cebu’s business leaders are pressing for an urgent energy plan, warning that steep power rates and unstable supply could weaken the province’s competitiveness while its economy is growing more quickly than the national average. Central Visayas recorded a 7.3% rise in 2024, outpacing the country’s 5.7% growth and bringing its output to ₱1.28 trillion. Cebu […]
Guimaras has vaulted back onto travel lists due to its stunning beaches, picturesque island-hopping coves, and the renowned Manggahan Festival. Visitor numbers have surged: provincial officials say the island topped 1 million tourist arrivals in 2024, a first for Guimaras and a milestone they credit to an aggressive tourism push and a new Tourism Code. […]
