Officials from the provincial government and the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) are set to travel to Metro Manila before the end of the month to lobby with concerned agencies regarding proposed solutions to the island’s power crisis.
This was learned from a ranking official following the hearing conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Committee on Energy on Aug. 14, 2025.
However, Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza has already jumped the gun on the would-be lobbyists as he has already met with top officials of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the National Power Corporation (NPC) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) before the weekend in a bid to fast track moves to end the crisis.
In a social media post, he said he has discussed with ERC Chairman Francis Saturnino Juan, NPC President Fernando Martin Roxas and NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda the concerns of Catandunganons on the power supply situation on the island as well as alternative renewable energy sources.
The chief executive was also set to visit the office of Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin.
“I am hoping that by meeting all the four heads of offices and by explaining to them the gravity of our concerns sa Isla, there will be a long-term solution to the power source problem of Catanduanes. Otherwise, saan pa dudulog ang mga Catandunganon? Kung kailangan makaabot ito sa level ng Malacañang, then so be it,” he stated.
Azanza also expressed his belief that the solution to the power problem in Catanduanes lies in the immediate approval by NPC of the Terms of Reference (TOR) submitted by FICELCO and the immediate conduct of the Competitive Selection Provess (CSP) for the proposed 36-mW power supply with emphasis on renewable energy.
He likewise said that these moves should by followed by the FICELCO board’s immediate approval of the plan to establish a 10-mW solar power plant in Catanduanes which does not require a CSP.
In the hearing at the Legislative Hall that lasted past noon, the energy committee headed by PBM Arnel Turado, together with members PBM Santos Zafe and PBM Giovanni Balmadrid, discussed possible answers to the crisis with NPC Vice President Atty. Rogel Teves, Luzon Operations Department Manager Engr. Edwin Tatel and tariff-in-charge Meann Verzosa; SUWECO assistant vice president for operations Engr. Ray Anthony Paule, business unit head Floro Barrameda Jr. and spokesperson Lorenza Rojas; a representative of the governor; Virac Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento Jr., San Andres Mayor Aly Romano and several LGU representatives; FICELCO officials led by Board President Rodolfo Vargas and General Manager Engr. Francis Gianan; PBMs Josevan Balidoy and Tito Villamor; DTI Catanduanes provincial director Ma. Belma Escueta; a representative of Cong. Eulogio Rodriguez; and representatives of selected NGOs and CSOs as well as the energy committee’s technical advisor, Nathan Bonifacio.
Joining online were officials from DOE and the Philippine Competition Commission.
Vowing to help to the best of the agency’s ability, Napocor’s Teves said they are studying whether to send a power barge to Catanduanes but disclosed that all of its barges are already old and expensive to operate, with most deployed to different island grids.
We would need one billion pesos a year to operate a 5-megawatt power barge to augment Catanduanes’ power needs, he said, adding that to purchase and deploy mobile gensets would also take six months, aside from the time to be spent seeking the approval of the NPC board and the DOE.
On the suggestion that the NPC grant subsidy to SUWECO, VP Teves said it would depend on the decision of the ERC.
“Sila lang po ang may mandato para magsabi kung magkano ang kuryente na dapat bayaran ng kunsomidores at kung magkano po ang i-subsidy ng NPC. Yun lang po yung masakit na katotohonan,” he stressed.
One suggestion put forward was for FICELCO to pay the power it is buying from SUWECO under the EPSA on a staggered basis but it would need the approval of the top management who were not present during the meeting.
NPC’s Teves also reminded FICELCO that under a DOE circular, cooperatives have to comply with the requirement that 25% of its generation should come from renewable energy by 2030 and 50% by 2040.
On the review of the NPC’s power rate for Balongbong hydroelectric power plant that should lower the generation rate by two pesos, it was agreed that the congressman would follow-up with ERC the request of the cooperative, along with representation from the provincial government.
FICELCO officials are likewise planning to go to NPC headquarters to seek the immediate approval of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of its Competitive Selection Process (CSP) for 36 megawatts of power that has been pending since 2024 and has undergone 18 revisions.
On the deferment of the elections of FICELCO directors, the board justified the move due to the NLRC’s garnishment of its accounts for two weeks to pay 73 regularized employees.
SUWECO officials also clarified upon questioning that it has no contract with Powerzone Petroleum Corp. regarding the fuel supplied to its genset but with Uni-Oil, which entered into a hauling agreement with Powerzone.
They emphasized that Powerzone is not in any way involved in the pricing arrangement between SUWECO and Uni-Oil.