Infrastructure thinktank Infrawatch PH on Thursday called on the power sector to build more power plants and ramp up efforts to address energy security to avoid the economic effects of power outages.
Infrawatch PH said the energy industry should proactively work together to ensure future energy security as unexpected incidents like the three-day outage in Western Visayas affect not just residents but also the economy.
“Following the massive blackout that happened in Panay, Iloilo and parts of Negros, it is very evident that there is still a lot of work that has to be done to strengthen our energy infrastructure and ensure energy security,” Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said in a statement.
“While there are no clear resolutions yet on that unfortunate incident, the industry should not be paralyzed and instead join hands in boosting available capacity that to make sure that in the years to come, there will be sufficient supply that can meet both the demand and reserves requirement of the country,” Ridon said.
He echoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to the country’s key energy players to make sure that there is “reliable power at all times” and avoid the “massive inconvenience and loss for our people” from recurring.
He said recovery efforts were in full swing and the energy industry should be ready to support the country’s economic progress.
Infrawatch PH said there was no significant power generation capacity addition since the commercial operations of Unit 2 of GNPower Dinginin in 2022.
“It is worrisome that we seem to forget that we have to build significant power generation capacities to address power interruptions and meet the country’s growth trajectory,” Ridon said.
Infrawatch PH also acknowledged that efforts to promote the utilization of indigenous natural gas sources and push to develop the country’s downstream natural gas industry towards the country’s transition to cleaner energy.
“Infrawatch PH lauds the government’s efforts to push to ensure energy security through the development of natural gas projects in the Philippines,” Ridon said.
“But beyond this, what remains crucial is the stronger participation and collaboration of private sector players who could pour in the necessary investments to make power interruptions a thing of the past and realize the benefits of having sufficient energy supply in the long run,” he said.