The Department of Energy (DOE) has ordered the immediate restoration of three major generating units in the Visayas after forced outages triggered a Yellow Alert on the regional grid, underscoring ongoing supply tightness in one of the country’s most critical power markets.

In an official statement issued on May 12, Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin directed Therma Visayas Inc. Units 1 and 2 and Panay Energy Development Corporation Unit 3 to “immediately undertake the restoration of the affected power plants which are on forced outage.”

The order followed the declaration of a Yellow Alert in the Visayas Grid from 5 PM. to 8 PM on May 12. The grid operator later extended the alert period from 4 PM. to 10PM before lifting it at 10:12 PM., according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

As of 8:30 AM on May 13, NGCP said another Yellow Alert was scheduled for 5PM to 9PM.

NGCP identified the forced outage of TVI Unit 1 (169 megawatts), TVI Unit 2 (169 MW), and PEDC Unit 3 (150 MW) as key factors behind the alert, along with high system demand.

The simultaneous outage of the three units removed a combined 488 MW from the Visayas grid, tightening reserves even as electricity demand remained elevated.

As of May 13, available capacity in the Visayas stood at 2,580 MW against projected peak demand of 2,423 MW. While the system retained a nominal reserve margin, NGCP said the operating margin was insufficient to meet contingency requirements.

The DOE also instructed its Visayas Field Office to inspect the affected plants and coordinate with the generation companies to ensure measures are in place “to bring the units back online safely and promptly.”

“The DOE assured the public that it is conducting enhanced monitoring and coordinating with generation companies, the system operator, and other concerned stakeholders to support the timely restoration of affected units, maintain grid reliability, and minimize further disruption,” the agency said.

Secretary Garin also directed NGCP, generation companies, and system operators “to facilitate the timely return of the affected units, stabilize available supply, and avert any prolonged impact on consumers.”

NGCP data showed that beyond the three affected units, 11 other plants had been on forced outage since March 2026, while 12 generating units were operating at derated capacities. In total, more than 857 MW remained unavailable to the Visayas grid.

For power sector stakeholders, the latest alert highlights the region’s continued exposure to supply disruptions when large baseload units go offline, particularly during periods of high demand.

What are your views on the recurring Yellow Alerts in the Visayas grid and the implications for generation adequacy and reliability? Join the discussion.

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