President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. expressed openness to the idea of allowing a new electricity provider to operate in Siquijor, as the province continues to experience severe power shortages.
In an interview on Wednesday, Marcos responded to questions about whether another provider could take over from the Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (SIPCOR), which is currently under scrutiny following his directive to investigate its operations.
“Everything is on the table. We just have to examine what is the best solution,” the President said. “We have some very good ideas na. The NEA administrator is here and he has put out a framework on what we need to attend to, what would come first, etc. We will give you more detail after the detailed planning for that.”
Marcos noted that the government has set a six-month timeline to implement interim solutions, including the use of generator sets to restore electricity. He stressed the urgency of addressing the power supply failure and its impact on residents.
“We have given ourselves a deadline of six months for the short-term solution,” he said. “By six months from now, we will then impose whatever new arrangements that we have to do, so that six months from now, we do not have to resort to emergency genset.”
The President also reminded SIPCOR of its obligation to deliver reliable electricity to the people of Siquijor. As part of the response, two generator sets from Palawan are set to arrive in the province soon to augment the current power supply.
The local government of Siquijor has declared a state of calamity due to the ongoing energy crisis. The declaration will allow the province to access emergency funds from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF), including the Quick Response Fund (QRF), to support immediate interventions.
Marcos visited the SIPCOR power facility to assess the situation firsthand and ensure that necessary actions are being taken. Meanwhile, National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda assured residents that concrete steps are underway. He has ordered the activation of the two generator sets as a temporary fix while SIPCOR works on repairing three of its damaged power units.
