Cebu power providers: No prolonged outages, rotational brownouts
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Power distributors in Cebu dismissed viral claims of looming rotational brownouts and prolonged outages, assuring consumers that electricity supply across their service areas remained stable.
The clarification came as online posts warned of months-long outages supposedly linked to an “energy lockdown” triggered by rising global fuel costs.
In an advisory dated April 1, 2026, Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) said reports of extended outages within its franchise were false and misleading.
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“We reassure our consumers that our power supply remains stable. Please do not be misled by unverified reports or posts circulating online,” its advisory read.
VECO, the country’s second-largest power utility, serves Cebu City, Mandaue, Talisay, Naga, and the towns of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla, and San Fernando.
Power also stable in Mactan
On the same day, Mactan Electric Company, Inc. (MECO) also issued a similar statement. MECO, which covers Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova, also denied any supply instability.
“We call on individuals to stop spreading fake news that causes panic, whether for personal gain or to promote their products,” its statement read.
Both firms urged consumers to rely only on official announcements posted on their verified social media pages.
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Middle East conflict
During the Regional Development Council-7 meeting on March 30, 2026, the Department of Energy (DOE) reported no power supply shortages in the region.
“We don’t see any power interruptions or power reserve deficiency for the Visayas area,” the agency reported.
The DOE said the region’s electricity mix remained largely coal-based at 77 percent, followed by geothermal at 20 percent, with about 2 percent coming from oil.
It explained that while supply reserves remained sufficient, global fuel disruptions could still influence electricity prices, especially as countries shift to coal amid oil shortages.
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The global supply strain stemmed from escalating conflict in the Middle East, which disrupted key routes and production facilities.
On February 28, 2026, United States and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran, leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for about 20 percent of global crude oil.
The disruption, along with damage to petroleum facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and nearby Gulf states, pushed up global oil prices and affected fuel costs in importing countries like the Philippines.
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