Consumer welfare group Kuryente.org is calling for the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), National Electrification Administration (NEA), and power generators to work together to ensure no brownouts during the May 2022 elections. Incidents of unreliable electricity supply and power outages will undermine the integrity and sanctity of the election process.
An estimated 65.7 million Filipinos will cast their votes this May in what could be the most crucial elections in Philippine history. The country is in an economic slump with the pandemic plunging us deeper into poverty, unemployment, poor education standards, and inadequate healthcare.
We live in a democracy, and we believe in the sanctity of the Filipino vote. We have the right and responsibility to elect leaders who will pull us upward towards economic recovery.
However, the persistent issue of thin energy supply triggering power outages during summer months—which includes the May 9 elections, is a serious problem. Unreliable electricity supply and the possibility of brownouts during the casting and counting of votes will undermine the credibility of the coming elections.
We cannot risk having power interruptions when Filipinos are casting their votes through electronic voting machines and during data transmission for canvassing. Nationwide brownouts causing voting delays and questionable results, as well as political groups taking advantage of the issue are common scenarios in the Philippines. We need to address this now.
There is so much at stake in the coming elections, we must work together to protect the integrity of the election process and the sanctity of the Filipino vote. Together with your support, Kuryente.org is proposing the following measures to ensure stable and reliable electricity for a clean, orderly, and honest elections:
- Accountability. Please sign this open letter which serves as our “panata sa bayan” and commit to help ensure reliable energy supply during casting, transmitting, and canvassing of votes.
- Collaboration. Create a working group composed of the DOE, NGCP, ERC, NEA, and consumer groups to plan for possible energy shortages during elections.
- Urgency. For the ERC to approve all pending Certificates of Compliance (COC) for completed power plants regardless of their technology to fast track their entry to the grid.
- Action. For gencos and electric cooperatives to implement stricter maintenance protocols to avoid unplanned shutdowns.
5. Compliance. For NGCP to comply with the Ancillary Service Procurement Agreements (ASPA) and contract 100% firm reserves via the competitive selection process (CSP).
- Reliability. For NGCP to ensure critical transmission projects are completed and transmission lines can accommodate ample energy from different power plants.
- Stability. For private power distributors and electric cooperatives to ensure the reliability and stability of their network against possible power interruption.
Together, we will protect our democracy and work towards an orderly, clean, and honest elections. We are at a turning point in our history, let us write a better story for the next generation.
