Gatchalian pushes power grid fixes – The Manila Times

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called on May 16, 2026, for concerned government agencies to promptly resolve recurring power interruptions affecting various parts of the Philippines.

The senator directed his appeal to the Department of Energy (DOE), the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and the National Grid Corp. Of the Philippines (NGCP).

The call for action follows a period of instability in the nation’s electricity supply, during which the NGCP issued red and yellow alerts for the Visayas and Luzon grids. These alerts were triggered by the simultaneous forced outages of several power plants.

The supply disruptions have coincided with increased energy demand and soaring summer temperatures, raising concerns regarding the overall stability of the power grid.

Gatchalian expressed frustration that power failures persist despite other government adjustments. He noted that some government agencies have moved to a four-day work week in response to tensions in the Middle East, yet brownouts continue to occur.

“Many government agencies are implementing a four-day work week due to tensions in the Middle East, but brownouts are still occurring in various parts of the country. This is unacceptable.”

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian

The senator emphasized that power generation companies must be held accountable if repeated plant shutdowns are identified as the primary cause of the disruptions.

“If recurring plant outages are driving the problem, generation companies must be made to answer. The ERC should enforce compliance with performance standards and take action against erring plants.”

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian

Gatchalian warned that prolonged interruptions have severe consequences for essential services and daily operations nationwide, specifically impacting households, schools, and businesses.

“Every hour of a brownout brings business operations to a standstill, disrupts the education of our youth and paralyzes the daily lives of our communities. Most critically, it puts at risk patients whose survival depends on electricity-powered medical equipment.”

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian