Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) has restarted several of its Visayas power units after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Northern Cebu on September 30, which temporarily shut down operations as a safety measure.

Two units of Cebu Energy Development Corporation (CEDC) with a net sealable capacity of 219.7 MW and one unit of Toledo Power Company (TPC, 73 MW) have already been synchronized back to the grid, while inspections continue on the remaining unit before its scheduled restart.

MGEN confirmed that the trip-offs were automatic safeguards and that inspections revealed no significant damage to its Cebu facilities. The company emphasized that the shutdowns were precautionary, not caused by structural failures.

Other facilities, including MGEN’s Panay-based power plants, were unaffected and remain in normal operation. The company also reported that all personnel in the Visayas are safe and accounted for.

MGEN said it is closely coordinating with the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), and local authorities to ensure continued stability of the Visayas grid and support Cebu’s power needs following the quake.

The company reiterated that the safety of its employees and host communities remains its top priority and committed to providing further updates as needed.

As the Philippines faces recurring natural disasters, what additional steps should power producers and regulators take to bolster grid resilience and protect energy security?

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