AboitizPower has urged government agencies, industry stakeholders, and communities to work together in strengthening Mindanao’s power infrastructure and preparing for increasing electricity demand as the region’s economy expands.
Aldo Ramos, president and chief operating officer of AboitizPower Distribution Utilities, said the region must take proactive steps to maintain a reliable, affordable, and sustainable power supply, warning against complacency despite its current generation capacity.
“Not looking back at where the Mindanao power sector has been. It’s about deciding together where it goes next,” Ramos said during the PowerForward Mindanao: Driving Conversations on Energy Security and Growth media forum at Aria Hotel and Residences in Davao City on Tuesday.
Ramos recalled the power crisis in Mindanao in 2016, when widespread outages disrupted businesses and public services, costing the region an estimated P300 million to P400 million daily.
“When power fails, our government services stall, our businesses are unable to grow, and our small enterprises close early. Reliability is not a luxury; it’s the foundation of every goal we have in Mindanao,” he said.
While the region currently enjoys a relatively stable power outlook, Ramos said preparations must begin now to address future supply challenges as electricity consumption continues to rise.
He cited Mindanao’s more than 4,600 megawatts (MW) of installed generation capacity against a peak demand of about 2,700 MW, leaving a reserve margin of nearly 2,000 MW.
However, he pointed to recent power supply problems in Zamboanga, which triggered a red alert in the area and a yellow alert across Mindanao, as an indication of how disruptions in one part of the grid can affect the wider power system.
“Demand is still rising, and the DOE has told us that the margin of safety should be eaten up over time. So we need to move now and protect Mindanao so that we can continue the stability we have today so that we can guarantee tomorrow,” Ramos said.
He outlined three priority areas for strengthening the region’s energy security: attracting investments in the power sector to support economic growth, expanding baseload generation and developing solar energy while keeping electricity costs competitive.
Ramos also underscored the need to expand electricity access in underserved communities, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas that remain without power.
He further called for investments in grid improvements, battery storage systems, and climate adaptation measures to make the power system more resilient against disruptions.
Ramos stressed that these challenges cannot be addressed by a single company or government agency, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among various sectors.
“No single company, no single agency or sector holds all the answers,” he said.
He encouraged regulators, electric cooperatives, academic institutions, civil society organizations, young people, and local communities to participate in discussions and contribute ideas toward practical solutions for Mindanao’s energy requirements.
AboitizPower, he said, is helping facilitate these conversations and consolidate recommendations from stakeholders to support the development of the region’s energy sector.
Ramos expressed confidence that stronger partnerships would help sustain Mindanao’s economic growth and ensure that power supply would not hinder development.
“Mindanao has shown again and again that when all of us work together and move together, progress follows and that Mindanao continues to grow,” he said.
