Tovic Salvador

And then there was light: Power restored in blackout-hit Siquijor

Article (news)

LIGHTBULBS MANNING

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

Power has been restored in blackout-hit Siquijor Monday, exactly one week after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/list-10-key-issues-marcos-addressed-in-his-4th-sona-1949">ordered energy officials</a> to fix the power crisis in the province.National Electrification Administration administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said 2 gensets of Total Power arrived in Siquijor at 6 a.m. Sunday, which were installed and integrated into the system by 9 p.m.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsiquijorpia%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02SRHhFGgaYmJbzfiqrTST9nPvJmNtLuXj4418HfDoZMvdnNFq67xWp3oXfk9yDtapl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="626" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Variances in frequency, however, caused the system to trip for several hours, which needed further fixes.“Tinitimpla-timpla nila. It was only until 2 a.m. this morning that the first genset was able to dispatch 900 kw. The second genset was able to dispatch another 300 kw. So by 2 a.m. this morning, wala ng brownout,”he said in a radio DZMM interview.He added he does not expect any more brownouts in Siquijor even during peak demand at 12noon.“On the supply side, it is more than enough. It is just the integration of the system, may mga final touches sila,” he said.Almeda said the rental of gensets is a band-aid solution to the power crisis, saying NEA is still working on a permanent fix.A team of engineers from the University of the Philippines also visited the island over the weekend for an <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/1/gov-t-eyes-return-of-24-7-power-in-siquijor-by-sunday-0835">independent audit</a> of the Siquijor Island Power Corp. plant.Energy Secretary Sharon Garin earlier said Sipcor, the lone power supplier on the island, can only deliver 5-6 megawatts of power while demand is at 8-9 MW.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said the Villar-owned Sipcor should deliver its promises under its power supply agreement with the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PROSIELCO), or <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/20/marcos-tells-siquijor-power-firm-fulfill-your-promise-or-end-contract-1302?fbclid=IwY2xjawL86A1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0T3YxckZKSWo5N0c1dlh5AR6djGbxXRqsueL0pfSzS4_8da-jerRPz4tzxZTz3SFbFvVVZeoK4MXggA3m9w_aem_kq7O3kw6prlHrWV_zcvx8w">terminate the contract</a>.The island has experienced <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/7/30/unacceptable-20-hour-blackouts-cripple-siquijor-0918">20-hour blackouts</a> less than a month after the President&#x27;s visit to Siquijor.Almeda said PROSIELCO has an impending competitive selection process this week for the planned increase of 11 megawatts for the island’s energy needs in the next 5 years.“Titingnan natin if that will be enough solution for a replacement if ever,” he said.

Power has been restored in blackout-hit Siquijor Monday, exactly one week after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/list-10-key-issues-marcos-addressed-in-his-4th-sona-1949">ordered energy officials</a> to fix the power crisis in the province.

Power has been restored in blackout-hit Siquijor Monday, exactly one week after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered energy officials to fix the power crisis in the province.