Energy forum urges long-term planning to keep Mindanao's power surplus

Energy officials and industry leaders on Tuesday, Nov. 10, discussed how to keep Mindanao's power supply stable and its electricity rates affordable over the long term, according to Mindanao Times.

The forum, "Power Forward Mindanao: Mindanaoan Dialogue on the Future of Energy," was organised by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Therma South, Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power.

Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, chair of the Regional Development Council XI, said dependable electricity is a driver of regional growth. He said it is needed to attract foreign investment and support key sectors such as agriculture. He added that infrastructure must keep pace with future growth and reach far-flung communities. Jubahib called for closer coordination among the Department of Energy (DOE), the Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to ease grid connection constraints. He said these constraints affect emerging renewable projects such as solar farms and waste-to-energy facilities.

DOE Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo noted that Mindanao has moved from past supply shortfalls to a capacity surplus. He also cited the energisation of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP). He said the project's second stage is underway and is expected to double the link's capacity, allowing more control over power exchange between the two island groups.

Bacordo said programmes such as the Green Energy Auction Program are part of efforts to raise renewable energy's share of Mindanao's energy mix to 50 percent by 2030. He said these efforts include hydro capacity projects under Green Energy Auction 7. He reported that household electrification in Mindanao stood at 85.7 percent as of June 2026. The rate in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was 51.2 percent, and efforts there are being accelerated. "Energy security is not merely an economic metric; it is the very foundation of lasting peace and true economic independence in the South," Bacordo said.

Aldo Ramos, president and chief operating officer of AboitizPower Distribution Utilities, cautioned against complacency. He said Mindanao has more than 4,600 megawatts of installed capacity against a peak demand of about 2,700 MW. The Mindanao grid has previously been placed on yellow and red alerts when reserves tightened, the report noted. "Demand is still rising, and the DOE has told us that the margin of safety will be eaten up over time," Ramos said.