ACCESS backs call for Visayas energy roadmap by 2026

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) has joined mounting calls for a time-bound and transparent energy roadmap for the Visayas region, amid growing concerns over an impending power supply shortfall by 2026.

ACCESS President Wennie Sancho said Monday that the group’s stance aligns with warnings issued by the Cebu Electricity Rights Advocates (CERA), which has flagged the possibility of Cebu entering a “critical energy” phase within the next two years.

“The need for a clear energy roadmap is urgent. This is not just about Cebu—it’s about the entire Visayas region facing a power crisis,” Sancho said in a statement.

Citing Department of Energy (DOE) projections, Sancho pointed out that rising electricity demand coupled with construction delays of new power facilities could significantly strain the grid. According to DOE data, the Visayas could experience supply instability beginning in 2026 if current trends persist.

The DOE has previously raised alarms over lagging energy infrastructure development, warning that the supply gap may lead to higher electricity costs and power outages—issues that could disrupt the region’s economic performance.

Business sectors, particularly in manufacturing and export, have already expressed concern over rising electricity costs and production disruptions caused by unreliable supply, underscoring the urgency of addressing the issue through strategic planning and investment.

Sancho is scheduled to meet with the Alliance of Consumers in Northern Negros (ACNN) to discuss the energy forecast’s implications and secure broader support for a proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) between Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) and the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO).

ACCESS and Power Watch Negros Advocates have both echoed CERA’s call for the DOE and local distribution utilities to release a comprehensive energy development roadmap for the Visayas. They pointed to the five-year development plan launched by Negros Power in Central Negros as a potential model for regional planning.

Meanwhile, efforts to strengthen grid reliability are underway. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is advancing the Cebu–Negros–Panay Interconnection Projects (Stages 1–3), designed to enhance electricity sharing across the Visayas islands.

The NGCP stated that the projects aim “to ensure reliable and efficient electricity delivery nationwide.”

ACCESS also appealed to local governments in Northern Negros to fast-track deliberations on the proposed Negros Power–NONECO partnership, stressing that a timely agreement is vital to avoiding possible energy shortages in 2026.