Power stability a big concern in Cebu — Baricuatro

Local

CEBU’S next stage of growth will depend partly on whether its power system can keep pace with rising demand.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro is pushing a broader approach that combines generation, storage and transmission to strengthen the province’s energy security.

“One of our biggest concerns today is power stability,” Baricuatro said.

She noted that Cebu has continued to expand despite disruptions from severe weather, the 2025 earthquake and other economic pressures, while rising electricity demand continues to pressure the power system.

She said Cebu has experienced several yellow alerts in recent months as electricity demand increased alongside economic activity.

Central Visayas grew by 3.7 percent in 2025, recording a gross regional domestic product of P1.32 trillion and remaining the largest regional economy outside Metro Manila.

Baricuatro said Cebu’s power demand increases by about 150 megawatts annually, while the province continues to rely heavily on imported electricity.

Baricuatro is developing a Provincial Energy Master Plan as Cebu’s long-term energy roadmap.

The plan will bring together national policies, local priorities and private-sector investments in generation, renewable energy, storage and transmission.

A key component of the roadmap is battery energy storage, which can help balance supply and demand and give the grid greater flexibility during tight supply periods.

Aboitiz Power Corp. is developing a 60-megawatt battery energy storage system in Naga City.

At the project’s groundbreaking, Baricuatro linked the facility to Cebu’s need for greater power stability as electricity demand rises.

AboitizPower Transition Business Group President and Chief Executive Officer Celso Caballero III said the project forms part of the company’s efforts to improve grid flexibility, resilience and reliability.

“Naga BESS represents transformation in action,” Caballero said.

Meralco PowerGen Corp. also energized the first phase of its Toledo battery energy storage project in May, with 25 MW and 56.44 megawatt-hours of capacity.

The facility can store electricity and discharge power during periods of high demand.

Storage, however, cannot solve Cebu’s power needs on its own. Batteries need generation to charge, while transmission facilities must move electricity to areas with growing demand.

The Visayas had 2,179.47 MW of committed renewable energy capacity as of May 2026, covering biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind, according to Department of Energy data cited by the Philippine Information Agency.

The same data showed 419.9 MW of committed energy storage capacity, including battery and hybrid facilities.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines is building the Cebu-Lapu-Lapu 230-kilovolt transmission line and Lapu-Lapu 230-kV substation to support Metro Cebu and Mactan Island and accommodate additional renewable capacity.

The province is also pursuing other energy projects, including a solar power project targeted to begin construction within the year and the redevelopment of the Alegria Oil Field to improve local energy supply.

Cebu also plans to deploy electric buses in Metro Cebu, component cities and island areas as part of its broader energy and sustainability efforts.

These initiatives form part of Baricuatro’s “Ato ang Sugbo” development vision for 2025 to 2035, which includes climate-smart infrastructure and a more resilient economy.(MyTVCebu)