The Department of Energy (DOE) has directed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to secure additional reserve capacity and implement emergency measures to help address the ongoing power supply deficit in the Visayas.

During a press conference on June 1, Energy Undersecretary Mario C. Marasigan said the DOE is targeting at least 150 megawatts (MW) of additional ancillary services, or reserve power resources, to strengthen grid reliability and provide additional operating reserves in the region.

The Visayas remains the DOE’s primary area of concern, with peak demand exceeding 2,700 MW while available supply has dropped to as low as 2,244 MW.

According to the DOE, the shortage is largely due to the outage of four major generating units: Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2, Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) Unit 3, and KEPCO SPC Unit 2.

KEPCO SPC Unit 2 is expected to return to service on June 2, while PEDC Unit 3 is scheduled to resume operations on July 3. Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2 are expected to return in August.

To help stabilize the grid while these facilities remain offline, the DOE is pursuing several short-term interventions, including the deployment of power barges, modular diesel generating units, and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

A 30-MW BESS facility in Mactan, Cebu is currently undergoing final testing and commissioning, while negotiations are underway for at least 20 MW of modular diesel generation capacity.

The DOE said these measures are intended to strengthen available reserves and reduce the risk of further supply shortages during periods of high demand.

The Visayas is also receiving support from neighboring grids through existing interconnections. The Mindanao–Visayas Interconnection is currently operating at its full transfer capacity of 450 MW, while the restored Luzon–Visayas Interconnection is providing up to 250 MW of transfer capability following the re-energization of key transmission lines.

Meanwhile, the DOE said both Luzon and Mindanao continue to operate under stable conditions. Luzon recorded actual supply of 16,614 MW against demand of 14,534 MW, providing reserves of more than 2,000 MW, while Mindanao maintained a surplus that allowed it to support the Visayas grid.

Beyond immediate interventions, the DOE said it continues to fast-track new capacity additions through Task Force 200, its program aimed at accelerating the completion and commissioning of power projects.

As of 2026, the initiative has commissioned 36 projects totaling 1,505 MW, including nine battery energy storage projects with nearly 170 MW of capacity. An additional 16 projects representing 918 MW are currently undergoing final testing and commissioning.

The DOE said it remains committed to implementing both short-term and long-term solutions to maintain reliable power supply nationwide as it works to address ongoing challenges in the Visayas grid.

Will the DOE’s combination of reserve procurement, battery storage, and emergency generation be enough to stabilize the Visayas grid until major power plants return to service?

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