President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has expressed openness to bringing in a new electricity provider for Siquijor, as the province continues to grapple with a worsening power crisis.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Marcos acknowledged the possibility of introducing a new energy supplier, following his directive for an investigation into the Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (SIPCOR), the province’s current provider.
“Everything is on the table,” the President said. “We’re reviewing all options to determine the best path forward. NEA [National Electrification Administration] has already laid out a plan for addressing this issue.”
Marcos emphasized that the government has set a six-month window to implement short-term solutions, including deploying generator sets. He added that within this period, authorities aim to repair damage caused by the collapse of the local power supply.
“Our deadline for short-term fixes is six months. After that, we aim to put long-term solutions in place to avoid relying on emergency gensets,” Marcos stated.
In response to the crisis, two generator sets from Palawan are being sent to Siquijor to ease the current power shortages. The provincial government has also declared a state of calamity, allowing it to tap into emergency funds for immediate relief.
SIPCOR has been urged to fulfill its responsibility in supplying reliable electricity. NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda has assured residents that steps are being taken to resolve the crisis. He also ordered the operation of the generators while SIPCOR works on fixing three damaged units.
Marcos and Almeda recently met with Governor Jake Vincent Villa and other local officials to discuss long-term measures for restoring stable power in Siquijor.