SENATOR Idol Raffy Tulfo expressed concern over the low power supply to meet the demands of consumers in Luzon and Visayas areas.
Tulfo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy, made the statement after the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Luzon and Visayas Grids under red and yellow alerts on April 16 since more than 30 power plants are offline or are operating at a reduced capacity.
“Ang nasabing alert levels ay nakakabahala gayong una nang nagbigay ng pahayag si Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix Fuentebella noong Pebrero na mayroong sapat na power supply sa bansa sa panahon ng El Niño. Dagdag pa ng DOE, wala umano silang nakikitang power supply issues sa mga susunod na buwan,” he said.
“Nakikipag-uganayan na ako at ang aking opisina sa DOE at NGCP upang siguraduhin na ang mga kasalukuyan nating power plants ay maaasahan at hindi papalya, lalo pa ngayong napakainit ng panahon,” he added.
Tulfo stressed the need for intensive monitoring of the DOE, NGCP and generation companies of power plants to avoid recurring brownouts.
“Malaki ang nagiging masamang epekto ng pagkawala ng kuryente lalo na sa kalusugan at ekonomiya ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya kapag nagkaroon ng malawakang brownout sa bansa, ang mga consumer ang magdurusa at kawawa,” said he.
According to the DOE, they are already in contact with NGCP and generation companies to prevent brownouts in the country. The DOE also ordered distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to implement interruptible load programs. This is where large establishments such as factories and malls will use their own generators to reduce electricity consumption from the grid.
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