Solon Hits DOE for Slow Response to Visayas Power Outages

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has been scolded by House lawmakers after the agency failed to provide a concrete solution to the power woes hounding the Visayas, amid successive days of yellow and red grid alerts. During the hearing of the House committee on energy and the committee on Visayas development on Tuesday, House panel members expressed their dismay over the DOE’s perceived inaction. “I think it’s about time that we demand from the DOE a concrete solution. They should have already been able to present a concrete solution to the problem,” said Negros Occidental Rep. Emilio "Emil" Bernardino Yulo III, who is also the vice chairperson of the Committee on Energy. “It’s been days now since we have been experiencing these power interruptions,” he added. For his part, House Committee on Energy chairman, Pampanga Rep. Dong Gonzales, also expressed his concern over the prolonged power outages in the Visayas. “We are concerned about the prolonged power interruptions in the Visayas, especially since it affects the daily lives of our constituents,” Gonzales said. He also urged the DOE to provide a clear explanation of the situation and to outline the steps they are taking to address the issue. The Visayas region has been experiencing successive days of yellow and red grid alerts, which indicate a shortage in power supply. This has led to rotating brownouts in various parts of the region. The DOE has attributed the power outages to a combination of factors, including the forced outage of several power plants, increased demand due to hot weather, and transmission line issues. However, lawmakers argue that the DOE should have anticipated these issues and had contingency plans in place. “We need a long-term solution, not just temporary fixes,” Yulo said. He also called for a review of the country’s power supply agreements and the promotion of renewable energy sources to ensure a more sustainable and reliable power supply in the future.