Manila, The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has issued yellow alerts for the Visayas and Mindanao grids, signalling a thinning power supply amidst high demand and widespread plant outages. This critical situation underscores the urgent need for enhanced energy security and grid resilience across the archipelago. The recurring power supply challenges threaten to impede economic stability and the sustainable development of cities and communities in these vital regions.
The yellow alerts, in effect from 6 PM to 8 PM, highlight a precarious balance between available capacity and peak demand. In the Visayas, the available capacity stood at 2,569 MW against a peak demand of 2,449 MW. This narrow margin is largely attributed to 10 power plants being on forced outage between April and July 2025, with six of these out of commission since 2024. Additionally, four other plants are operating at derated capacities, collectively rendering 423 MW unavailable to the grid, severely impacting the region’s energy stability.
Mindanao faces a similar predicament, with an available capacity of 2,827 MW against a peak demand of 2,667 MW. The situation is exacerbated by 11 plants on forced outage from June to July 2025, and two others out of commission since 2024. Three additional plants are running at derated capacities, resulting in a substantial 638.3 MW being unavailable to the grid. While the Luzon grid maintained a normal power supply, the persistent issues in Visayas and Mindanao underscore a regional disparity in energy infrastructure resilience.
A yellow alert signifies that the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirements, though it does not typically translate to immediate power interruptions. However, the consistent occurrence of such alerts points to systemic vulnerabilities within the power generation and transmission infrastructure. This instability can deter investment, disrupt industrial operations, and impact the daily lives of citizens, particularly in densely populated urban centres and developing rural areas, hindering equitable access to reliable energy.
The Department of Energy is currently validating these reports, but the underlying issues demand a comprehensive, long-term strategy. Investing in diversified energy sources, particularly renewables, alongside modernising grid infrastructure and enhancing maintenance protocols, is paramount. A stable and sustainable energy supply is fundamental to building zero-net-carbon, eco-friendly, and equitable cities, ensuring that economic growth and social development are not hampered by power deficits. Addressing these vulnerabilities is critical for the Philippines to secure its energy future and foster resilient urban and rural environments.
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