Wikipedia

Draft:Mindoro power crisis

The Philippine island of Mindoro, divided into two provinces—Occidental and Oriental Mindoro—has experienced several power crises since at least the 1990s.[a] Between 2014 and 2023, the situation significantly worsened, particularly in Occidental Mindoro, with longer rotational blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day.

Background edit

Mindoro, with a population of approximately one million residents, is the seventh largest and eighth most populous island in the Philippines.[2] Located between Luzon and Palawan, it is administratively divided into two provinces: Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, each with its own electric cooperative—Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) and Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO), respectively.[3] However, while the Lubang Group of Islands is administratively part of Occidental Mindoro, it falls outside the jurisdiction of OMECO.[3] Instead, the archipelago is serviced by Lubang Electric Power Cooperative (LUBELCO).[4]

Similar to most electric cooperatives in the country, OMECO and ORMECO are overseen by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and have their rates regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of the Department of Energy (DOE).[5][6]

In all of Mindoro, sixteen power plants are operational as of April 2023:[b] four in Occidental Mindoro (two of which are on Lubang Island), and the remaining thirteen in Oriental Mindoro, none of which are connected to the national grid of the Philippines.[8][9]

History edit

The power crisis on Mindoro traces its origins to the 1990s,[10] and power outages have taken place even years prior.[a] By the 2000s, the power crisis had not yet been resolved, and the National Power Corporation (Napocor) was proposed to be privatized, leading residents of Oriental Mindoro to fear longer hours of outages, with some already experiencing daily outages lasting for more than 8 hours in the southern part of the province.[11] In May 2000, Southern Energy Philippines Inc. signed a memorandum of agreement with ORMECO that tasked the former with constructing two power plants in Oriental Mindoro—one in Pinamalayan and another in its capital city, Calapan—which would help the existing power barges in Puerto Galera and Calapan meet the energy requirements of the province.[11][12] In April 2002, residents of Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, and Santa Cruz in Occidental Mindoro organized a prayer rally at Mamburao's municipal gymnasium to protest the constant blackouts that plagued their constituents for years, hampering their socio-economic growth despite the abundance of natural resources in the area.[1]

[13][14]

Causes edit

[15][16][17]

Impact edit

[18]

Economy edit

Society edit

Response edit

National government edit

Local government edit

Private sector edit

Social response edit

Aftermath edit

Investigations edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Mamburao, the provincial capital of Occidental Mindoro, has been experiencing power outages since 1974.[1]
  2. ^ There are nineteen in total, but only sixteen are in operation.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Magsino, Mei (April 30, 2002). "Mamburao residents rally vs blackouts". Southern Luzon Bureau. Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 16. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Census of Population (2020). Table B - Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City, and Municipality - By Region. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b "2019–2028 Distribution Development Plan" (PDF). Department of Energy (Philippines). Archived (PDF) from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Virola, Madonna T. (April 26, 2023). "Gov't offices in Occidental Mindoro cut work days to cope with power crisis". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "2019–2028 Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (OMECO) Power Supply Procurement Plan (PSPP)" (PDF). Department of Energy (Philippines). Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative. August 16, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  6. ^ "System Impact Study for 41MW Power Supply" (PDF). National Electrification Administration. Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative. August 1, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  7. ^ "List of existing power plants (off-grid) as of December 2021" (PDF). Department of Energy (Philippines). April 28, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  8. ^ Cordero, Ted (April 29, 2023). "DOE: Gov't to hasten Mindoro Island's connection to main Luzon grid". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Romero, Maria (October 16, 2022). "DoE: Connecting off-grid islands expensive but under discussion". Daily Tribune. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  10. ^ de Leon, Dwight (April 21, 2023). "Marcos' campaign promise to fix Occidental Mindoro brownouts now haunts him". Rappler. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Jabal, Joel (May 9, 2000). "Longer brownouts feared in Oriental Mindoro". Southern Luzon Bureau. Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 15. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  12. ^ Jabal, Joel (May 17, 2000). "Firm bags Mindoro power deal". PDI Southern Luzon Bureau. Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 30. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  13. ^ Magsino, Mei; Virola, Donna (February 3, 2003). "Mindoro power summit vows to solve brownouts". PDI Southern Luzon Bureau. Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 16. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  14. ^ Magsino, Mei (June 12, 2003). "Darkness veils Occidental Mindoro". Inquirer Southern Luzon. Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 16. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  15. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (February 28, 2023). "Firm blames red tape for Occidental Mindoro power crisis". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  16. ^ de Leon, Dwight (April 20, 2023). "Occidental Mindoro placed under state of calamity due to power crisis". Rappler. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  17. ^ Cabanban, Seth (April 21, 2023). "Occidental Mindoro appeals for gov't, Marcos action to end power crisis". CNN Philippines. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  18. ^ Evora, Robert A. (July 22, 2022). "Mindoreños are restless over worsening power outages". Manila Standard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  19. ^ "New geothermal plant to pull down power rates in Mindoro". Rappler. February 2, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  20. ^ "'No more blackouts' in Mindoro town". The Philippine Star. March 18, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  21. ^ Gonzales, Iris (December 6, 2018). "Problematic electric cooperatives". Eyes Wide Open. The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  22. ^ "Solution in sight to crippling brownouts in Oriental Mindoro". Inquirer Southern Luzon. Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 1, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "'Brownout provinces' seek approval of House Bill 8179". The Philippine Star. August 1, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  24. ^ Rivera, Danessa (December 1, 2019). "DOE probes power situation in Occidental Mindoro". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  25. ^ Gita-Carlos, Ruth Abbey (August 3, 2021). "Gov't agencies to look into Mindoro power crisis: Palace". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  26. ^ Crismundo, Kris (August 27, 2021). "Resolve power shortage in Mindoro by end-Sept: Cusi". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  27. ^ Delos Reyes, Nikki (July 21, 2021). "No quick solution for Mindoro power crisis". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  28. ^ Ochave, Revin Mikhael D. (August 27, 2021). "DoE orders Napocor to resolve Mindoro power issues; improvements expected by end of September". BusinessWorld. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  29. ^ Kritz, Ben (June 2, 2022). "Powerless in Mindoro". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  30. ^ Tan, Alyssa Nicole O. (July 5, 2022). "Gatchalian eyes probe on Occidental Mindoro power supply woes". BusinessWorld. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  31. ^ Alcayde, Jerry (July 11, 2022). "Coal as solution to power crisis in Mindoro proposed". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  32. ^ Delos Reyes, Nikki (August 1, 2022). "Fewer power outages seen in Occidental Mindoro". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  33. ^ Alcayde, Jerry (August 5, 2022). "Mindoro electric coop enters agreement with two IPPs to address power shortage". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  34. ^ Bordey, Hana (August 8, 2022). "Raffy Tulfo seeks probe on 'persistent, recurring' power outages". GMA News. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  35. ^ "Occidental Mindoro: Four hours of power daily due to unpaid government subsidies". AsiaNews. April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  36. ^ Virola, Madonna T. (April 21, 2023). "Occidental Mindoro endures power crisis". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  37. ^ Jose, Ashley Erika O. (April 23, 2023). "DoE assures Occidental Mindoro steps underway to address power crisis". BusinessWorld. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  38. ^ Oliquino, Edjen (April 24, 2023). "Occidental Mindoro power outages cause outrage". Daily Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  39. ^ Bordey, Hana (April 25, 2023). "Senate inquiry sought to end power crisis in Occidental Mindoro". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  40. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (April 25, 2023). "Probe into Occidental Mindoro power crisis pushed in Senate". Rappler. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  41. ^ Manabat, Johnson (April 25, 2023). "Power crisis sa Occ. Mindoro dahil sa 'depektibong' EPIRA law: DOJ" [Power crisis in Occ. Mindoro is caused by 'defective' EPIRA law: DOJ]. ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog). Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  42. ^ Tabile, Justine Irish D.; Talavera, Sheldeen Joy; Jose, Ashley Erika O. (April 26, 2023). "SMC considers building Batangas-Mindoro bridge as provinces grapple with oil spill, power crisis". BusinessWorld. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  43. ^ Espina-Varona, Inday (April 28, 2023). "Occidental Mindoro folk celebrate as power supply stabilizes". Rappler. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  44. ^ Virola, Madonna T.; Corrales, Nestor (April 30, 2023). "Gov't talks to power firm to end Occidental Mindoro blackouts". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  45. ^ Flores, Helen; Mercurio, Richmond (April 30, 2023). "'Occidental Mindoro power crisis resolved'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  46. ^ Macapagal, Jed (May 1, 2023). "24-hour power supply back in Occ Mindoro". Malaya. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  47. ^ Pamintuan, Ana Marie (May 1, 2023). "Bring your own power". Sketches. The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  48. ^ Torregoza, Hannah (May 17, 2023). "Tulfo: JCEC to probe NGCP, energy woes". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  49. ^ Laurente, Ire Joe (October 1, 2023). "Oriental Mindoro power crisis far from resolved". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  50. ^ Ramos, Chris Burnet (January 12, 2024). "Occidental Mindoro officials decry high power rates, seek new suppliers". Rappler. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
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