The Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday reported that the country’s overall power supply remains sufficient, with the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids continuing normal operation despite the adverse weather conditions.
However, the DOE said precautionary shutdowns and localized interruptions have been recorded in certain areas due to Severe Tropical Storm Opong.
With round-the-clock monitoring and rapid coordination among power generation, downstream oil and transmission and distribution stakeholders, the DOE assured that lifeline facilities are prioritized and that restoration measures are ready to be deployed at the earliest possible time.
“While our foremost priority is the safety of our people and the resilience of our energy systems, the Department, through the Task Force on Energy Resiliency, is working non-stop and that restorations of power in all affected areas will be in full swing once the weather allows,” said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.
As of noon Friday, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said that around 8,900 affected customers, who are mostly in the provinces of Quezon, Laguna and Cavite, are experiencing outages but restoration is ongoing.
The DOE has instructed power plant operators, the National Power Corporation (NPC), the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and distribution utilities to immediately implement measures that will restore and sustain electricity services.
This united action underscores the Marcos government’s commitment to safeguard lives, maintain essential services and provide comfort to communities even amid severe weather conditions.
The DOE said that for on-grid, BACMAN Units 1–3 in Albay and Sorsogon (133 megawatts dependable capacity) and the Palayan Binary Plant in Albay (28 MW) were preemptively shut down as a contingency measure for STS Opong. All other on-grid plants remain operational.
For off-grid areas, several diesel power plants (DPPs) under the NPC Small Power Utilities Group are either on standby, operational with distribution lines not energized, or partially energized due to storm damage.
Restoration teams have been deployed, with the NPC Task Force working to cut restoration time by half in affected mini-grids in Camiguin Island, Cagayan.
Meanwhile, four NGCP 69-kV transmission lines, such as the Calbayog-Allen, Paranas-Quinapondan, Calbayog-Bliss and Amlan-Siaton, are unavailable, affecting power services in Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Negros Oriental as of 9 a.m. Friday.
Inspection and restoration will commence once weather conditions improve.
The DOE said the Ambuklao and Binga Dams are conducting controlled spilling operations, with a total of two gates each currently opened.
Magat Dam, managed by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), has three gates open with normal power generation maintained.
Meanwhile, 87 electric cooperatives (ECs) in 52 provinces across 12 regions are being monitored. Sixteen ECs are experiencing partial power interruptions while six are under total power interruption, mostly in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and MIMAROPA.
The DOE said restoration efforts are ongoing, supported by Task Force Kapatid contingents from neighboring cooperatives.
It said national fuel supply remains sufficient and stable even as 10 gasoline stations — nine in Region I and one in Region III — are temporarily offline due to flooding, damage or power outages. Bulk facilities remain fully operational.
