Siquijor power firm vows to exhaust legal remedies vs franchise cancellation
TAGBILARAN CITY—The Siquijor Island Power Corp. (Sipcor) of Villar Group said it would “exhaust all remedies available under the law” to address the decision by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) revoking the company’s authority to operate in Siquijor.
Sipcor, in a statement released on the same day that the ERC announced its decision on Friday, said it was currently studying the order and would soon address the matter.
“We assure our stakeholders and the public of our commitment to address the matter responsibly and resolve this concern as soon as possible,” Sipcor stated.
The company did not disclose specific details of the ERC decision but emphasized that it was taking necessary steps to comply with regulatory processes while ensuring the stability of its operations.
New providers
On Friday, the ERC revoked the authority of Sipcor to operate its generation facilities in Siquijor, citing multiple violations that aggravated the island’s power crisis.
The ERC cited Sipcor’s failure to secure a certificate of compliance before operating its power generation sets, including rental units; prolonged outages due to poor maintenance and delayed parts replacement; noncompliance with reportorial requirements; and failure to meet its obligations under its power supply agreements with the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Prosielco).
With Sipcor’s shutdown, the province’s electricity needs are now being met under an emergency power supply agreement facilitated by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in line with a directive from the Department of Energy (DOE).
New generation facilities were rapidly constructed, tested and commissioned in Larena, Lazi and Candanay towns through the joint efforts of the NEA, Prosielco, the new power provider and local stakeholders. The new plants, with a combined capacity of 15.75 megawatts (MW), can supply more than the province’s peak demand of 9.5 MW, ensuring stable electricity across Siquijor, authorities said.
The NEA also mobilized linemen from Cebu I Electric Cooperative and Cebu III Electric Cooperative to assist Prosielco in completing critical transmission facilities.
President’s order
The ERC’s action followed President Marcos’ directive to the DOE, the NEA and the ERC to restore stable electricity in Siquijor before year’s end.
The island had been hounded with daily power outages lasting from two to five hours, while some areas received electricity for only a few hours a day.
The tourism sector, a vital pillar of Siquijor’s economy, was badly hit. Operators reported cancellations and refund requests from frustrated tourists whose stays were disrupted by unscheduled brownouts.
Siquijor, the country’s third smallest province with a population of 103,395 based on a 2020 census and composed of the towns of Siquijor, Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi and San Juan, relies heavily on a stable power supply to sustain tourism, businesses and the daily lives of its residents.
