The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will hold a public inquiry into the persistent power outages in Siquijor province. This follows a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who instructed energy agencies to take immediate action on the issue.

The Commission has summoned key stakeholders, such as the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PROSIELCO), S.I. Power Corporation (SIPCOR), and the National Power Corporation (NPC), to appear at a public hearing scheduled for July 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the ERC’s main office in Pasig City.

The hearing comes in response to a growing number of complaints from Siquijor residents, businesses, and tourists about prolonged and recurring power outages. According to the ERC, these service disruptions have already affected economic activity and public welfare in the province.

As part of its investigation, the ERC conducted a technical inspection earlier in May 2025. This inspection revealed several operational and regulatory shortcomings. In its report, the Commission cited the lack of preventive maintenance, insufficient fuel inventory, and the use of rental generators without the necessary permits in SIPCOR’s generation facilities. In addition, PROSIELCO’s distribution operations were found to have improper sectionalizing equipment and delays in infrastructure relocation.

The Commission also noted that some facilities were operating without safety certifications or plant compliance documentation. This raises concerns about both reliability and regulatory oversight.

In line with the hearing, the ERC is also reviewing the compliance of PROSIELCO and SIPCOR with their existing power supply agreements. These contracts, which were approved in 2012 and partially renewed under interim relief in 2019, have a combined capacity of 9.5 megawatts. This should’ve, reportedly, been enough to meet the province’s peak electricity demand.

“This hearing is part of the ERC’s continuing commitment to uphold accountability, enforce compliance, and ensure that the people of Siquijor—and consumers in our off-grid areas—receive reliable and quality power service,” said ERC Chairperson and CEO Monalisa C. Dimalanta in a statement.

She added that the Commission aims to identify long-term solutions that will improve service delivery and ensure that all contractual obligations are fulfilled moving forward.

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