In response to recurring power interruptions across Panay Island, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas has secured critical commitments from energy providers to boost power capacity and build grid redundancy for the fast-growing city.

According to Treñas, the city government is proactively pursuing long-term solutions to safeguard local power stability despite regional supply challenges.

“We know how frustrating these continuing interruptions and rotational brownouts are for our people,” she said. “Even while the manual load shedding implemented by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is not directly within the control of the city government, we will not just wait around.”

To address the vulnerability of Panay Island—which sits at the tail end of the national power grid—the mayor outlined three major power generation commitments targeted for local deployment:

▪️Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) Expansion: PEDC has committed additional generation capacity, targeted to become fully operational by 2028.

▪️Entry of PH Natural Gas: Cleaner energy provider PH Natural Gas is preparing to establish operations within Iloilo City to diversify the local energy mix.

▪️MORE Power Floating Power Barge: A 40-megawatt (MW) power barge in nearby Guimaras, managed by distribution utility MORE Power, is slated for operation by the first quarter of 2027 to supply immediate backup power.

Treñas emphasized that building redundancy—having multiple, independent sources of electricity—is essential to sustaining Iloilo’s rapid economic expansion and insulating it from wider grid failures.

“These are the investments we must continuously pursue because we cannot depend on just one source of power,” she said. “Especially here in Panay, being at the tail end of the grid, having more generation, more sources, and more redundancy is vital.”

To ensure these projects proceed without unnecessary delays, the Treñas called on the national government and regulatory bodies to fast-track the required permits and approval processes so construction can begin immediately.

The mayor reaffirmed that her administration will continue engaging with power utilities, private investors, and regional stakeholders to build a more resilient energy infrastructure for the city.IMT