ILOILO City – Mayor Raisa Treñas has assured residents that the city government is working with energy-sector stakeholders to address persistent power interruptions, as frustrated Ilonggos called for concrete measures, advance notices and a clearer timetable for resolving the problem.
On social media, residents ask what could be done in the immediate term.
One commenter asked City Hall to obtain and disclose a projected completion date for the planned integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. The resident also sought an explanation of how the project would affect Iloilo’s electricity supply and whether it should be considered a temporary remedy or a long-term answer to the problem.
Another commenter questioned what specific measures were already being implemented beyond meetings and consultations.
“Ano nga aksyon gina obra? Can we know specific steps?” the resident wrote, asking where the actual preventive measures were.
Others expressed exhaustion over repeated outages, with one resident saying a solution should already be underway instead of consumers having to endure the same problem day after day.
Another commenter made the appeal even more succinct: “We need immediate action!”
Consumers also complained about the timing of announcements on load dropping.
One resident urged MORE Electric and Power Corp. to identify affected feeders at least an hour before an interruption whenever possible, saying consumers needed enough time to unplug appliances and electronic devices.
The commenter claimed an Xbox had been damaged and questioned why consumers could face surcharges for delayed payments while they had little recourse when electrical equipment was affected by outages.
Another resident called for greater accountability from those responsible for public infrastructure, saying explanations issued after outages were not enough and consumers were entitled to answers.
Suggestions also emerged from the discussion, including exploring hydroelectric power as a sustainable source and seeking greater intervention from national energy officials.
One commenter lamented that Iloilo was becoming a “City of Darkness,” although the resident expressed hope that the situation would soon improve.
Treñas explained that manual load shedding is carried out by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and is beyond the direct control of the city government.
Despite this, Treñas said City Hall has been engaging power industry players to determine what could be done to improve the situation.
During a recent Iloilo City Business Development Council meeting, the mayor discussed the power situation with Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC), which informed city officials of efforts to expand electricity generation capacity in the Visayas.
Treñas also pointed to the anticipated entry of LNGPH in Iloilo City, involving an integrated liquefied natural gas terminal and power facility.
She said the continuing supply problem should be viewed as a Visayas-wide concern rather than one confined to Iloilo City.
Treñas cautioned that resolving the shortage would take time but said the local government was not merely waiting for conditions to improve.
“There is no instant or overnight solution to this problem. But we are not taking this sitting down,” she said.
City officials, she added, would maintain communication with energy stakeholders and pursue measures that could protect the interests of Iloilo City and its residents./PN
