AFFECTED. Businesses in Iloilo City’s downtown area resort to generators amid the power outage affecting Panay Island for over 24 hours since Tuesday (Jan. 2, 2024. Business groups have expressed apprehension about the effects of the power crisis on local businesses. (Photo courtesy of Arnold Almacen/City Mayor’s Office)
ILOILO CITY – A total of 284 public schools in Panay on Wednesday suspended face-to-face (F2F) classes due to a power outage affecting the island for over 24 hours since Tuesday afternoon.
“We abide by the guidance of our LCEs (local chief executives), especially in protecting the health and welfare of our learners and personnel. School heads are in constant coordination with their respective SDOs (schools division offices) in ensuring learning continuity despite this unforeseen situation,” said Department of Education (DepEd) Western Visayas information officer Hernani Escullar Jr. in an interview.
Data from the Department of Education in Western Visayas showed suspension of classes at all levels in Iloilo City and towns of Sigma and President Roxas in Capiz; Kalibo and Numancia in Aklan; Estancia, Pavia, Leon, Calinog, and Balasan in Iloilo province upon the declaration of their respective mayors.
The school head of the Leonora S. Salapantan National High School in San Miguel, Iloilo, also suspended their classes.
Escullar said the schools could have home tasks to ensure learning continuity, provided there is proper coordination with their school heads and SDOs, especially since some learners are just returning from their holiday break.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILEDF) expressed its deep concern over the unfortunate power outage that occurred at the outset of the resumption of work on Jan. 2.
“This unforeseen event has undoubtedly posed challenges to our local businesses, industries, and the overall economic activity within our community. The power blackout has, regrettably, disrupted normal operations for numerous businesses, hindering productivity and causing inconvenience to our residents. We understand the gravity of the situation and empathize with those who have been directly affected by the outage,” ILEDF said in a statement released on Wednesday.
It urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to conduct a thorough investigation into the root cause of the problem, implement corrective actions promptly, and prioritize the improvement of infrastructure in the region to prevent similar incidents from disrupting economic activities.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iloilo City chapter, in a letter addressed to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, raised its concern about the effect of frequent outages on businesses and residents and proposed a collaborative approach to address the concerns effectively.
“These challenges underscore the importance of a reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply for the smooth functioning of our city,” said the letter signed by its president, Engr. Fulbert Woo.
The NGCP in a press statement, said the multiple plant tripping on Jan. 2 isolated the Panay grid from the rest of the Visayas grid.
“The unscheduled maintenance shutdowns of the largest power plants in Panay Island were the primary cause of the power interruption. We emphasize the need for improved planning to ensure sufficient generation per island, with a well-balanced mix of fuels and technology,” NGCP said.
Generating units 1 and 2 of the Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC), each with a capacity of 83 megawatts (MW), and the 135-MW Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC) tripped on Jan. 2, while PEDC's unit 3 with a generating capacity of 150 MW was on planned maintenance shutdown.
“With the tripping of 3 of the largest power generating units and the planned maintenance shutdown of PEDC Unit 3 (150 MW), 451 MW or 68.75 percent of the total 656 MW in-island generation was lost to the Panay sub-grid,” it added.
The transmission operator also reiterated its call for a “whole-of-industry approach, including better energy resource planning.” (PNA)
