"Our priority is to remain healthy to survive this pandemic."
"Our priority is to remain healthy to survive this pandemic."
I remember, around the same period last year, I wrote about the “cloud of uncertainty” surrounding the ownership of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. As I said back then, power and water supply should be the least of our worries as we strive to curb the transmission of COVID-19. Today, unfortunately, while the NGCP’s corporate ownership remains controverted, an issue I hope would be addressed, a more pressing concern are the rotational brownouts in many parts of Luzon.
PAG-ASA recently announced the end of La Niña and the start of the “neutral conditions.” Along with this came power interruptions as the NGCP placed the Luzon Grid on red and yellow alerts. Majority of Luzon provinces are not spared. These rotational brownouts are reportedly expected to last until the 7th of June.
Of course, we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Hospitals are still brimming with patients and general community quarantine is again implemented. The only difference now is that vaccines have been made available. It is for this reason that we should be more worried about these power interruptions.
Apart from the problems these power outages may pose to hospitals with limited back-up power supply, recall that COVID-19 vaccines require a certain temperature to remain potent and effective. This is why some areas could only receive a certain brand of vaccine depending on the availability of their storage facilities. That said, I surmise that the Department of Health has already prepared for all possible contingencies, including power interruption. I fervently hope they are indeed prepared.
Although it is a known fact that power consumption usually increases during these months, our current power supply, apparently, cannot keep up with the demand. While the country has been predominantly powered by coal-fired power plants, I believe projects have been on the pipeline to expand and augment our power supply. Last year, the Department of Energy announced that it has taken leaps in building liquefied natural gas import and storage facilities that will pave the way for more LNG-fuelled power plants in the country. In Pagbilao, Quezon, the Energy World Corporation was given a permit to construct its 650-MW LNG terminal and power plant.
I am pleased that the government has finally allowed the transition to LNG-fuelled power plants as it is more sustainable and environmentally-responsible. Understandably, it would be difficult to continue while in the pandemic. As we wait, given our present situation, I ask the public to do their share in energy conservation. I acknowledge the fact that it is a rather more difficult period to avoid COVID-19 while enduring this summer heat. Nonetheless, let us be mindful of our power consumption.
I join the call of the people to the national government and the Department of Health to ensure that our health and vaccine facilities are spared from these power interruptions and that the integrity of vaccines will not be affected. At the end of the day, our priority is to remain healthy to survive this pandemic.