The urgency of their appeal stems from the Department of Energy’s prediction of a big shortfall of 1,400 megawatts in electricity supply in Cebu by 2026, posing a significant risk to economic stability and the well-being of its people.
Cognizant of which, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Charles Kenneth Co Cebu sounded the alarm that Cebu faces impending power shortages unless new plants are built. Metro Cebu, for instance, with highly urbanized cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu City, accounts for half of the province’s overall demand as they are homes to various industrial, retail, hospitality, and office establishments, as well as residential developments such as subdivisions and condominium projects. Cebu, in turn, partakes half of the entire Visayas region’s total requirement.
A scenario of long-drawn power shortages and blackouts in Cebu is feared to have catastrophic consequences. Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia could not agree more to him. She, too, has emphasized the importance of investing in inland baseload power plants for energy security.