What will it take to secure energy for Visayas and Mindanao?

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From transmission planning to distribution improvements, here’s what’s needed to keep up with Visayas and Mindanao’s growing demand.

As Visayas and Mindanao continue to emerge as key drivers of the Philippine economy, the conversation around energy security is more important than ever.

In the latest edition of the “Powering Up: Generating Energy Security in Visayas and Mindanao” roundtable discussion presented by Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), industry experts gathered to address what it takes to ensure long-term energy supply, transmission, and distribution for these growing regions.

The first episode of the discussion focused on the status of VisMin’s energy security. This time around, local energy experts highlighted the hows of securing energy security for the long run.

The discussion was led by ECCP Energy Committee chairperson Ruth Yu-Owen. She was joined by fellow experts in the local energy sector: Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta, chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC); Professor Rowaldo “Wali” Del Mundo, associate dean of the College of Engineering at the University of the Philippines – Diliman; and Asec. Romeo Montenegro, deputy executive director of the Mindanao Development Authority.

Electrifying Cebu as an economic powerhouse

With Central Visayas sustaining its 7.3% economic growth rate in 2024, Cebu remains a critical driver of that growth. To open the discussion, Ruth Yu-Owen raised the question: What options are available to ensure long-term energy security for Cebu and the rest of the region?

“The DOE has drawn up very clear plans for Cebu, in particular for Visayas in general,” Atty. Dimalanta said. “There are even plans for setting up an LNG [Liquefied Natural Gas] plant in Cebu. I think in general, it will help not just Cebu but the whole region because LNG can help address the balancing requirement of the system.”

Dimalanta also acknowledged that while Visayas is rich in renewable energy resources, its abundance of intermittent power sources presents a challenge. “Renewable, in order to be reliable, will require certain balancing requirements. It’s quite demanding on the grid.”

One of Liquefied Natural Gas’s downsides is its costs. Since the Philippines currently does not have a sufficient supply of natural gas, it would have to be imported along with the coal needed for the process, according to Dimalanta.

Mindanao’s electrification rate

The discussion then pivoted to what it would take to supply power to regions in the country that have been left in the dark. 

Asec. Montenegro shared that Mindanao currently has the lowest electrification rate nationwide, with regions like BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) falling below 50%, a figure much lower than the national average of 94-95%. He emphasized that addressing these figures requires much planning and foresight.

“That’s why the strategy in Mindanao supposedly is both the grid and then the off-grid areas or the islands,” Asec. Montenegro said, citing Mindanao’s plan to have a 50% renewable energy mix by 2030. “It’s not enough that we focus our attention solely on the brownouts in Davao.”

Montenegro added that Mindanao will be a key focus of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in the coming years. “Ang focus ngayon ng NEA, which will actually prioritize Mindanao, and Mindanao will prioritize BARMM, is to electrify using what we call utility-rated solar home systems.”

Looking ahead, Montenegro called for a longer-term and more proactive approach. “Towards a trajectory of 10, 15 years down the road[…], we don’t just look at energy security from the standpoint of capacity addition, but we also are proactive and aggressive in integrating energy transition.”

Ultimately, the discussion landed on achieving long-term energy security for Visayas and Mindanao by getting the basics done right today through proper planning, engineering, and utilizing what’s already available, as highlighted by Prof. Del Mundo. 

With growing economic activity across both regions, the stakes are higher than ever. What’s needed is better planning, stronger infrastructure, and consistent delivery to ensure energy can reach where it’s needed most, not just the country’s growing economic hubs but also to off-grid communities. 

Watch the “Powering Up: Generating energy security in Visayas and Mindanao” roundtable episode 3  here: 

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– Rappler.com