Visayas grid on red alert

CEBU, Philippines — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Visayas Grid under red and yellow alert status on Tuesday, May 13, due to high demand and multiple power plant outages, prompting rotational brownouts in several parts of Cebu and other areas in the Visayas.

In an advisory, NGCP declared a red alert from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a yellow alert from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

NGCP said the Visayas Grid had an available capacity of 2,510 megawatts against a peak demand of 2,413 MW.

The grid operator said 12 power plants have been on forced outage since March 2026, four since 2025, two since 2024, two since 2023, and one plant since 2021. Another 15 power plants are operating on derated capacities, resulting in 862.3 MW unavailable to the grid.

Among the major outages cited were Therma Visayas Inc. Unit 1 and Unit 2, each with a capacity of 169 MW, and Panay Energy Development Corporation Unit 3 with a capacity of 150 MW.

NGCP also cited the unavailability of imported power from Luzon and high system demand as factors behind the alert declarations.

A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.

To maintain grid stability, NGCP warned it may implement Manual Load Dropping (MLD) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. yesterday in several areas across the Visayas.

Areas that may be affected include the coverage areas of Visayan Electric Company, Mactan Electric Company, Cebu I Electric Cooperative Inc., Cebu II Electric Cooperative Inc., and Cebu III Electric Cooperative Inc.

Other affected utilities include power cooperatives and distributors in Negros, Panay, Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and parts of Mindanao.

NGCP said the scheduled load dropping may still be cancelled should system conditions improve, particularly if actual demand falls below projections. The grid operator also urged consumers to conserve electricity.

Meanwhile, Visayan Electric Company announced a series of one-hour rotational brownouts in parts of Cebu and Mandaue cities, as well as the City of Naga and the municipality of San Fernando.

In separate advisories, VECO said the rotational outages were necessary to help balance supply and demand amid limited operating reserves.

The first rotational brownout began at 3:45 p.m. and lasted until 4:45 p.m., affecting portions of Ibabao-Estancia, Maguikay, Paknaan, and Tabok in Mandaue City.

Another round from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. affected portions of Ermita, Lorega, Mabolo, San Roque, Sto. Niño, T. Padilla, Tejero, and Tinago in Cebu City, as well as Guizo, Subangdaku, and Tipolo in Mandaue City.

A third wave of rotational brownouts from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. affected portions of Cebu City, the City of Naga, Mandaue City, and San Fernando, including barangays Tinaan, Bairan, Balud, Banilad, Bugho, Cabungahan, Camputhaw, Cebu Business Park, Central Poblacion, Colon, East Poblacion, Greenhills, Inoburan, Jaguimit, Kasambagan, Lahug, Langtad, Lantawan, Lutac, Luz, Mabolo, Mainit, North Poblacion, Panadtaran, Patag, Pitalo, Sangat, South Poblacion, Subangdaku, Tangke, Tipolo, Tonggo, and West Poblacion.

VECO also announced another round of outages from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. affecting portions of Banilad, Carreta, Cebu Business Park, Hipodromo, Kalubihan, Kasambagan, Labangon, Mabolo, Punta Princesa, Sambag 1, San Antonio, San Jose, San Roque, Subangdaku, Tipolo, Tisa, and nearby areas in Cebu and Mandaue cities.

VECO apologized for the inconvenience and thanked consumers for their understanding as it implemented measures to stabilize the power system.

Meanwhile, several areas in northern and western Cebu experienced scheduled power interruptions Wednesday evening after electric cooperatives implemented MLD following the red alert declaration.

In an advisory, Cebu II Electric Cooperative Inc. confirmed a one-hour power interruption from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in parts of Danao City.

Affected barangays included Taytay, Dunggo-an, Guinsay, Cagat-Lamac, Sandayung Norte, Binaliw, Malapoc, Quisol, Sta. Rosa, Ibo, Togonon, Licos, Masaba, Mantija, Nangka, Sibacan, Cahumayan, Oguis, Langosig, Sacsac, Lawaan, Cambubho, Pili, Santican, Magtagubtob, Danasan, Bayabas, and portions of Baliang.

CEBECO II said the interruption was part of grid management measures under the red alert condition.

Cebu III Electric Cooperative Inc. also issued a notice of power interruption at 5:15 p.m., citing “Grid Red Alert, Manual Load Dropping and protection trip measures by NGCP due to generation deficiency.”

The interruption affected all barangays from Pinamungajan to Aloguinsan, as well as portions of Toledo City.

Power utilities appealed for public understanding, saying the rotational brownouts were necessary to stabilize the Visayas grid amid insufficient power supply.

As of 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Cebu I Electric Cooperative Inc. and Mactan Electric Company had yet to issue advisories on rotational brownouts in their respective areas. — /FPL (FREEMAN)