Negros Island is set to establish an energy summit to ensure ample power supply for both the city and the entire province of Negros Occidental.
This came after a recent power outage in Western Visayas that lasted four hours last week.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said that an energy summit is pivotal in maintaining a steady supply of energy, especially with stakeholders, from distribution to generators, present in the event.
“I met Governor (Eugenio Jose) Lacson yesterday (Sunday). We talked a little about a power summit. I think it’s scheduled soon. It’s in the works,” Benitez said in a press conference.
Benitez said that since the island has been producing 700 megawatts (MW) but only consumes 440 MW at peak load, the province and city wanted to be self-sufficient in energy.
“We really have a surplus in power supply in Negros Island. If we can harness first locally-produced power for our own consumption, we will not have to rely on supply elsewhere. One of the reasons why we have this disturbance or outages is because sometimes the power supply still comes from other areas, and we rely heavily on the transmission lines,” he said.
Additionally, Benitez encouraged power generators, especially hydro, biomass, geothermal, wind, and solar energy, to take part in the summit and contribute to creating an arrangement fit for consumers in Negros Island.
