The province of Occidental Mindoro has been placed in a state of calamity due to its worsening power crisis.
The provincial government made the decision in order for them to use the emergency or calamity funds that will address the crisis affecting the essential public services such as education, health, and livelihood of their residents affected by the crisis for more than a month already.
In an interview, Vice Governor Diana Apigo Tayag said they would PHP 7-8 million in funds to purchase crude oils to use for electricity in their hospitals.
According to Celso Garcia, General Manager of Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO), only 12 megawatts are supplied by the Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corporation (OMCPC), their sole power supplier. The province needs around 30 megawatts.
The OMCPC said that due to delayed subsidy payments of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) amounting to more than PHP 1 billion, the power provider cannot buy sufficient fuel.
Due to the limited power supply, residents across the province are making do with only four hours of electricity per day.
The continuous power crisis has also triggered protests from residents, demanding immediate solutions.
