Iloilo business group urges urgent action on Visayas power crisis

ILOILO CITY — The local business sector is sounding the alarm over recurring power outages and spiking electricity rates across the Visayas Grid, warning that the unstable power supply threatens local economic growth, jobs, and enterprise survival.

In a press statement issued Tuesday, the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, Inc. (FCCCI) voiced deep concern over repeated yellow and red alerts that triggered Manual Load Dropping (MLD) and rotational blackouts throughout Iloilo City and nearby areas.

The chamber noted that local businesses face a double burden: escalating electricity rates alongside the steep indirect costs of power interruptions. Commercial electricity rates in Iloilo City rose from P13.04 per kilowatt-hour in June to P13.58 per kilowatt-hour in August.

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READ: Red alert raised anew as Visayas grid power stays tight

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“Businesses are paying more for electricity while also carrying the cost of repeated interruptions,” said FCCCI President Engr. Terence Uygongco in a statement. 

He added: “This threatens productivity, employment, investment, and consumer prices.”

The frequency of rotational blackouts has forced companies to incur unexpected operational expenses, including fuel for standby generators, overtime pay, equipment damage prevention, and lost sales due to downtime.

The FCCCI said that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are bearing the brunt of the crisis, as many lack the capital to purchase and maintain expensive backup generators, leaving them helpless during extended outages.

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While acknowledging that Manual Load Dropping is an emergency protocol to prevent grid-wide collapse, the business group argued that its frequent implementation points to systemic failures in the power sector that require immediate intervention rather than stopgap measures.

To address the immediate emergency and build long-term energy security, the FCCCI urged energy government agencies, power generators, transmission operators, and local government officials to act on four key points: restore offline capacity, improve transparency, upgrade infrastructure, and provide consumer relief.

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“Iloilo needs a clear recovery plan with firm timelines and accountable parties,” Uygongco added, stressing that reliable and affordable electricity remains the bedrock of Iloilo City’s continued economic momentum. /coa