The Department of Energy (DOE) said power supply has improved in several off-grid and island areas, citing new capacity additions and operational updates in Catanduanes, Mindoro, Palawan, and micro-grid communities nationwide.

The agency said Catanduanes now has stable and continuous power supply, while Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan Mainland have enough dependable or contracted capacity to meet current demand, although additional reserves and project monitoring remain needed in the areas.

Catanduanes now has stable and continuous power supply after its new designated power supplier began full operations, according to the DOE. The supplier is now delivering reliable service to all towns in the province.

In Occidental Mindoro, the DOE said supply is secured with 36 megawatts (MW) of contracted capacity against peak demand of 26.54 MW. Contracted capacity refers to power supply already secured through supply agreements.

The agency said this effectively addresses earlier outage concerns in the province. DM Consunji Inc. has also secured contracts to deliver 13 MW for the Mamburao, Paluan, Santa Cruz, and Abra de Ilog area and 4 MW for Sablayan, which adds 17 MW more capacity to Occidental Mindoro’s power pool.

In Oriental Mindoro, dependable capacity stands at 76.20 MW against a demand of 64.40 MW. The DOE said additional reserves are still needed to strengthen system resilience.

The DOE is prioritizing the timely delivery of the first 31 MW out of 57 MW in newly contracted capacity for Oriental Mindoro. The agency is also reviewing the performance and implementation pace of new power producers to prevent delays in project rollout.

Palawan Mainland, meanwhile, has 89.70 MW of dependable capacity against demand of 61.74 MW, giving the area a comfortable supply position.

To further improve reliability, the DOE said it is conducting a comprehensive review of Palawan’s grid configuration and studying possible additional generation capacity from mining facilities that will stop operations in the area.

The DOE said the wider network of micro-grid systems remains generally stable. A minor operational concern at PSPI Balut Island was quickly resolved, with the area returning to full service.

“Making sure that stable, enough, and affordable electricity reaches even our farthest towns and islands lies at the heart of our work because reliable power is not just about lines and plants,” Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said.

“It means brighter homes, stronger livelihoods, safer communities, and greater hope and progress for every Filipino family, no matter where you live,” he added.

The DOE said it will continue close monitoring, fast-tracking of priority projects, and performance reviews to strengthen supply security, build adequate reserves, and improve service quality across off-grid systems.

How can stronger reserves and faster project delivery improve power reliability in off-grid island communities?

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