DOE targets Christmas end to power grid alerts in Visayas, Mindanao

The Department of Energy targets ending power grid alerts in Visayas and Mindanao by Christmas, aiming to eliminate red and yellow alerts in the fourth quarter. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin announced the goal on Thursday, Sept. 3, following 93 yellow and 30 red alerts in Visayas, plus 10 yellow and three red alerts in Mindanao this year. A 200-megawatt battery storage facility and temporary diesel power barges are expected to halve alerts within a month. The DOE is deploying barges and idle onshore diesel plants for immediate shortfalls, while long-term baseload facilities are planned for 2028-2030. A new circular targets poorly maintained plants with a three-strike process ending in blacklisting, as both grids faced a nine-hour red alert on Thursday.