Invest more in energy

POWER supply interruption affects the economic sector because most businesses’ critical infrastructures heavily rely on electricity. When electricity supply is not continuously given to businesses, this affects their income. When business incomes are affected, it cascades down to their employees.

But resolving the persisting power disruptions requires huge investments in infrastructure and other alternative energy sources. The study “Electricity Supply Interruptions in the Philippines: Characteristics, Trends, Causes” by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies analyzed the monthly interruption reports of electric cooperatives submitted to the National Electrification Administration. The causes of electricity supply interruptions are broadly classified into environmental, supply, technical, and other issues. Environmental issues are considered the most critical cause among the four.

We should be prioritizing the climate-proofing of our power infrastructure, a significant investment that can be incorporated into the government’s medium- to long-term plans. There’s also the need to provide assistance to and develop policies for electric cooperatives to increase their capacity and access to power supply, given their essential role in the energy sector.

And yes, the significance of other energy sources, specifically nuclear energy, in addressing power supply problems should not be ignored. Despite some setbacks, the government sees nuclear energy as a promising option, and talks about reviving the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant have started. However, there must be a comprehensive assessment of a nuclear power plant’s disaster risks, and there must be clear protocols for its construction, decommissioning, and waste disposal or storage, consistent with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Milestones Approach.

Aside from the huge costs a nuclear energy program requires, updating current laws and ratifying international legal instruments remain the biggest hurdle to nuclear energy. The Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA or Republic Act 9136) prohibits the government from engaging in power generation other than for missionary purposes; thus, the viability of various financing options needs to be reviewed. She added that the Philippines must also update its legal frameworks before it can pursue nuclear energy development and regulate.

The country’s nuclear energy strategy, benefits, and risks must be effectively communicated to the public to allay fears and obtain widespread support.