A generator set arrived in Siquijor on Thursday to ease rotational brownouts after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. visited the province to address the crippling power crisis.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) confirmed that a trailer truck carrying the genset from Sta. Rosa, Laguna reached the island at 5:59 a.m. Thursday aboard MV Martin 7 of Maayo Shipping Lines.
The equipment, bearing plate number NHE 6226, was delivered to the Siquijor Island Power Corp. (SipCor) plant in Barangay Tignao, Lazi. The genset has a rated capacity of one megawatt (MW) and a dependable capacity of 0.85 MW.
It is expected to raise the island’s available capacity to 7.75 MW—significantly narrowing the gap between current supply and peak demand, which stands at 9 MW.
As of 11 a.m. Thursday, total power output on the island was 6.9 MW, barely enough to cover off-peak consumption. With the new genset online, the shortfall during peak hours would be reduced to just 1.25 MW.
President Marcos flew to Siquijor on Wednesday to personally oversee the response to the prolonged daily blackouts, which have disrupted businesses and daily life, including the province’s vital tourism industry.
Authorities said power interruptions will likely be avoided during off-peak hours, while limited rotational brownouts lasting one to two hours may still occur at night until full capacity is restored.
Another genset—this one with a 2 MW capacity—was also en route to Siquijor from Palawan. Its delivery was delayed, but was expected by Friday evening with full installation and commissioning expected within 48 hours.
If all goes according to plan, officials said the island could have enough capacity to meet peak electricity demand by June 15, potentially ending the rotational brownouts that have plagued residents for weeks.
Local officials and residents expressed optimism, saying the developments signal hope for a return to stable power in the coming days.
