Keeping Panay’s electricity supply reliable is becoming a growing priority as the Department of Energy (DOE) begins work on an energy master plan tailored to the island’s position within the Visayas transmission network. The plan is being developed with a particular focus on strengthening the grid’s ability to withstand disruptions and continue supplying power even when it is cut off from the wider system.
The need for a dedicated strategy stems from Panay’s location at the far end of the Visayas grid. Camille Roxas, supervising science research specialist at the DOE’s Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, explained that the island has no transmission connection to Luzon through Mindoro.
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“Panay is located at the end of the Visayas transmission network and still has no transmission connection to Luzon through Mindoro,” Roxas said in a forum in Iloilo City on Wednesday.
“It is the endpoint of the interconnected sub-grids in the Visayas, making it highly vulnerable to transmission constraints and limiting its access to capacity transfers from other grids,” she added.
Planning for Panay’s Energy Security
The DOE has only recently started developing the master plan, with work beginning less than two weeks ago. The proposal is still being discussed internally within the department, and no stakeholder consultations have been conducted.
Rather than focusing on generation alone, the planned road map is expected to cover power generation, transmission, distribution, energy efficiency measures and electrification initiatives. These areas are intended to work together to improve the reliability and resilience of Panay’s sub-grid while strengthening its long-term energy security.
“The goal is to ensure sufficient generation capacity for Panay while enhancing interisland power transfer capability so that Panay can also support other sub-grids during contingencies and natural disasters,” Roxas said.
Another key objective is giving Panay the ability to maintain its own electricity supply in the event that its connection to the rest of the Visayas grid is disrupted. The proposed approach would combine generation, transmission and demand-side interventions to address reliability concerns and prepare the system for rising electricity needs.
“It also aims to address system reliability concerns through a balanced portfolio of generation, transmission and demand-side interventions. This development pathway will ensure that the necessary projects are implemented on time to support projected demand growth,” she said.
Panay’s “end point” or tail-end status is largely determined by its geographic location and the configuration of the transmission network. Power generally reaches the island through the Cebu–Negros transmission corridor, with submarine cables and transmission lines from Negros providing the final connection to Panay.
The urgency of preparing ahead is underscored by initial studies indicating that Panay could face a shortage of baseload power by 2029. Roxas said the master plan will help determine the island’s future requirements as the DOE works to address potential power supply gaps across the Visayas.
Enough Capacity, But Not Always Enough Power
The broader Visayas power picture shows that the region currently has substantial generation resources. DOE data showed that the Visayas has a total installed generation capacity of 4,065 megawatts (MW) and a dependable capacity of 3,495 MW, both exceeding the region’s year-to-date peak demand of 2,779 MW in 2026.
Renewable energy makes up the largest portion of installed capacity at 2,158 MW, or 53.1 percent. Coal accounts for 1,346 MW (33.1 percent), oil-based plants for 560 MW (13.8 percent) and natural gas for 1 MW.
The figures for installed capacity, however, do not necessarily reflect how much electricity is actually being generated at any given time. Despite renewables having the largest installed capacity, coal remains the biggest source of electricity generation in the Visayas.
Coal-fired power plants produced 8,058 gigawatt-hours (GWh), equivalent to 50.4 percent of total electricity generation. Renewable energy sources generated 7,565 GWh or 47.3 percent, while oil-based plants contributed 371 GWh or 2.3 percent.
One reason is that power plants can be temporarily unavailable even when they form part of the region’s installed or dependable capacity. Scheduled maintenance and unexpected outages can reduce the electricity that generators are able to deliver.
“The challenge is that installed and dependable capacity are not always fully delivered to the grid. Planned maintenance and unplanned or forced outages reduce the amount of electricity that can actually be dispatched,” Roxas said.
The DOE established a comprehensive power generation accountability policy in February 2026 in response to such concerns. The framework establishes strict operational, reporting and technical standards for generation entities, with the goal of preventing forced outages and protecting consumers from high electricity costs.
The department is now reviewing responses from generation companies that have received show-cause orders. It is also determining which companies should be given formal warnings and required to undertake corrective measures.
“If the policy is effectively implemented, generators will be discouraged from allowing unnecessary unplanned outages because outages involving large power plants directly influence electricity prices,” Roxas added.
For Panay residents, businesses and industries, the master plan could eventually translate into a more dependable electricity system and greater protection from disruptions that can affect household routines, business operations and local economic activity.
At the regional level, a stronger Panay grid could also contribute to the resilience of the wider Visayas system during contingencies and natural disasters, while better power planning can help the country prepare for future demand before supply gaps become a more immediate problem.
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