Cebu eyes master plan to address rising power demand

Local

TO address growing power demand, Cebu Province will craft a Provincial Energy Master Plan aimed at securing long-term supply stability and reducing dependence on imported electricity.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro announced Friday, April 24, during the Power Forward Visayas 2025 forum in Cebu City, saying that the province needs a coordinated and forward-looking approach to manage rising energy needs.

She added that Cebu must synchronize its energy development efforts to keep pace with its expanding economy and increasing consumption.

“We are not waiting—we are acting,” Baricuatro said, as she stressed the need to consolidate all energy initiatives under a single provincial framework.

The master plan will integrate renewable and conventional energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydro developments.

Solar energy

The province will include in its planning pipeline a proposed 150 MWp solar power facility in partnership with Acciona Energia Philippines.

Baricuatro said this is expected to begin construction within the year.

The solar power facility is under construction in northern Cebu as part of efforts to strengthen the province’s energy supply and expand renewable capacity.

The P7.5-billion project covers a 185-hectare site and marks Acciona Energia’s first undertaking in the Philippines and its largest in the Visayas.

Oil exploration

Baricuatro said the province will also evaluate the redevelopment of the Alegria Oil Field as part of efforts to strengthen local supply amid global fuel uncertainties.

Earlier this month, Department of Energy (DOE) has confirmed the revival of the Alegria oil and gas field in southern Cebu following the approval of Service Contract 89, granting an Indonesian-backed firm the right to operate the project.

DOE Visayas Director Renante Sevilla said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the contract for Texcal Energy–Mahato Inc., which will take over operations after the field remained idle for about three years.

The Alegria field contains an estimated 27.93 million barrels of oil and 6.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas, according to DOE data.

Answer demand

Baricuatro said Cebu’s electricity demand continues to rise by about 150 megawatts annually, driven by industrial growth, tourism, and population increase, putting pressure on existing supply.

She said the province will prioritize long-term, integrated energy systems to match economic and infrastructure growth while reducing exposure to supply disruptions.

Baricuatro added that the Provincial Energy Master Plan will align public and private investments with Cebu’s broader development goals.

In an interview, Sevilla welcomed the initiative, saying provincial energy planning in the Philippines is increasingly focused on expanding renewable energy, improving grid stability, and boosting energy efficiency amid rising demand.

Similar efforts are underway in provinces like Cebu, Iloilo, and Eastern Samar, aligned with the Philippine Energy Plan 2023–2050, which targets 35 percent renewable energy by 2030 and over 50 percent by 2040.(MyTVCebu)