Lapu-Lapu City officials are seeking clearer commitments from power agencies on when the electricity supply situation will improve, while the Cebu Provincial Government is set to resume a four-day workweek beginning September 28 as part of its energy conservation efforts.
During the Lapu-Lapu City Sangguniang Panlungsod’s session last week, representatives of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Mactan Electric Co. (Meco) were asked to explain the continuing supply shortage, rotational brownouts and rising electricity bills affecting consumers.
Vice Mayor Celedonio Sitoy, who presided over the Question Hour, said NGCP could not provide a definite timeline for the end of rotational brownouts, citing insufficient generation capacity and several power plants that remain unavailable.
‘NGCP discussed the problem, and we really have a shortage in power supply. They suggested adding more power plants. They said some power plants have broken down and can no longer be repaired,’ Sitoy told reporters in Cebuano.
The Visayas grid was again placed under yellow alert on Sunday due to scant contingency reserves.
Sitoy said he did not expect the supply problem to be resolved within the next two months, citing the need for additional generation capacity.
‘The problem is really the lack of generation power. We need a larger generation capacity,’ he said.
Power costs
ASIDE from interruptions, the Lapu-Lapu City Council raised concerns over electricity bills and the various charges passed on to consumers.
Meco explained that as a distribution utility, it has limited control over generation and transmission costs that form part of consumers’ bills.
These include generation charges paid to power suppliers, transmission wheeling charges collected by NGCP and ancillary service charges used to maintain backup reserves for grid stability.
The council has adopted several measures in response to consumer complaints.
Resolution 17-2233-2026, approved on July 15, asked the Department of Energy and ERC to conduct a review and audit of generation, transmission and other mandatory charges collected from Meco consumers. It also sought an examination of MECO’s power supply agreements, meter reading, bill computation and billing procedures.
On Sept. 7, the council approved Resolution 17-2518-2026, urging Meco to provide timely, feeder-specific brownout schedules identifying affected barangays and areas, the expected duration of interruptions and projected restoration times.
A third measure, Resolution 17-2524-2026, approved on Sept. 16, formally invited NGCP, ERC and Meco representatives to the Question Hour. The session was attended by officials from the three agencies, including NGCP Assistant Vice President Neil Modina, ERC Attorney III Mary Elizah D. Castillo and Meco Chief Financial Officer Julito O. Gultiano Jr.
Sitoy said the ERC had yet to present a concrete action plan addressing the concerns raised by the council. He said he would coordinate with Lapu-Lapu City
Mayor Ma. Cynthia King-Chan on possible measures to assist consumers affected by the power disruptions and higher electricity costs.
At the national level, Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Junard Chan is among the principal authors of House Resolution 1430, filed Sept. 7, seeking a congressional inquiry into ancillary service charges, the availability and actual delivery of backup reserves, and the status of generation, energy storage and transmission projects in the Visayas.
Four-day workweek
THE Cebu Provincial Government will again implement a four-day workweek beginning Monday, Sept. 28, as part of efforts to reduce electricity consumption.
Under a Sept. 23 memorandum issued by Gov. Pamela S. Baricuatro, provincial government offices and departments are encouraged to adopt a Monday-to-Thursday schedule, with working hours from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The arrangement will remain in effect until further notice.
The measure was issued pursuant to Executive Order 16, series of 2026, which cited the need to reduce energy consumption. The provincial government had previously adopted a four-day workweek in March amid rising fuel prices.
The latest move comes as Central Visayas continues to experience electricity supply constraints, while petroleum prices are also rising.
The provincial government said the compressed workweek is intended to manage energy consumption while allowing essential government operations and frontline services to continue.
Several offices, however, will retain their regular operating schedules.
These are the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Cebu Provincial Health Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, and Cebu North and South Bus Terminal.
The Provincial General Services Office, Provincial General Office and Provincial Treasurer’s Office have also been encouraged to assign personnel who will maintain regular Monday-to-Friday office hours.