Romblon execs to ERC: Stop looming power crisis

MANILA, Philippines — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Romblon and nine mayors of Tablas Island, have appealed to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to help avert an impending power crisis in the province.

In a resolution unanimously approved last week, the provincial board sought the early resolution of the power rate petition of Suweco Tablas Energy Corp. (STEC) to ensure a steady supply of electricity in the province.

Mayors Riza Pamorada of Alcantara, Marietta Babera of Calatrava, Jovencio Mayor Jr. of Ferrol, Lisette Arboleda of Looc, Lorilie Fabon of Sta. Maria, Arsenio Gadon of San Andres, Esteban Madrona of San Agustin, Elsie Visca of Sta. Fe and Trina Alejandra Firmalo-Fabic of Odiongan made the same appeal to ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera.

“During this time of the pandemic, the need for stable and reliable power supply is significant to effectively prevent the spread of the virus... Since most of our constituents are staying at home, curtailing the power supply will gravely affect them,” the mayors said in their joint letter-appeal.

STEC, the lone power supplier on Tablas Island, had earlier advised ERC and its customers that it would scale down operations starting tomorrow, citing hundreds of millions of pesos in losses due to the regulatory agency’s interim power rate approvals. The power firm said the ERC-approved rates are insufficient to maintain its operations at current capacity.

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona had earlier said a power crisis in the province would be ”very embarrassing,” noting that President Duterte had just inaugurated STEC’s solar power plant in August 2019.