To resolve Panay Island’s power reliability issues, Iloilo City Councilor Romel Duron has called on investors to fund the construction of a subsea grid extension loop between Panay, Mindoro, and Batangas.
The proposed secondary transmission line is expected to provide a critical backup route by directly linking the Panay grid to Luzon’s broader energy supply.
In a privilege speech on Wednesday, Aug. 19, Duron asserted that there is “no need to wait” for the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to complete its timeline.
The councilor noted that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has opened power transmission to private capital through Resolution No. 18, series of 2026.
The policy allows private entities and consortiums to fund, build, and operate critical transmission lines, creating a legal framework to fast-track regional grid projects like the Panay–Mindoro–Batangas subsea loop.
“The ERC has handed us the golden key. The private sector no longer has to wait for the grid provider’s delayed timelines; we can legally step in and build our own salvation but we have to encourage investors with the backing of local governments concerned,” Duron said.
The proposal, according to the councilor, should be brought to the Regional Development Council (RDC) to classify the construction of the secondary subsea transmission line as an urgent regional priority.
To accelerate the proposed project, Duron urged local government units to draft a “comprehensive investment and readiness map.”
The localized guide aims to help private investors navigate infrastructure and regulatory needs by detailing ideal generation zones, cable landing areas, substation upgrades, and potential right-of-way or environmental constraints.
“Let us also use our legislative mandate to strip away administrative hurdles. I call on this August body to pass a formal resolution urging the Department of Energy to declare the Panay-Mindoro-Batangas subsea grid extension loop a national project of strategic significance,” the councilor said.
Located at the tail end of the Visayas power grid, Panay Island experiences unstable power supply, where the unexpected trip of a single power plant can instantly plunge the entire region into darkness.IMT
