Concerned stakeholders now consider ending the power service engagement of PowerSource Philippines Inc. (PSPI) in Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan town due to its inability to address power instability in the island — a prime tourism destination in Cebu Province.
During a June 19 meeting at the Capitol, the Municipality of Daanbantayan and members of the Malapascua Business Association petitioned Gov. Gwen Garcia to immediately act on the matter, even if it means terminating the services of PSPI.
Anna Reed, president of the Malapascua Business Association, narrated the PSPI’s lapses since 2019 and how power crisis has been affecting the lives and livelihoods in the island. The recurring issues include frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations.
In attendance at the meeting were Department of Energy Visayas Field Office Inspector, lawyer Barrytone Busi; National Electrification Administration Engineering Department Director Federico Villar; Daanbantayan Municipal Administrator Mamerto Rodrigo; and PSPI executive Carlos Cervantes.
“It has continued all through these years, and that is where my responsibility lies because I have to do something in order to alleviate the situation. And if a continuing partnership is what you are offering, I’m sorry, I cannot even consider you a partner of the Province because that’s not the way we operate,” Gov. Garcia told Cervantes.
CEBECO II, led by General Manager Lowell Belcina, and National Power Corp., represented by Visayas head Timoteo Diacor, also expressed their disappointment with PSPI. They informed the governor that they have raised these concerns with their management and are awaiting a final decision.
PSPI provides electricity service to Malapascua as a Qualified Third Party since 2009. While CEBECO II is the exclusive franchise holder in the island, as well as other towns in the fourth and fifth districts of Cebu, it has waived its right to provide service in Malapascua in favor of PSPI, declaring Malapascua as a remote and unviable area.
The parties are scheduled to meet again on July 3 to present their official positions on the matter. | BJR