ENERGY industry stakeholders convened on Tuesday, Nov. 10, for the “Power Forward Mindanao: Mindanaoan Dialogue on the Future of Energy” to map out strategies for long-term grid stability and affordable rates in Mindanao.
Jointly organized by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Aboitiz Power subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI), the forum tackled pressing issues in the power sector.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, who chairs the Regional Development Council XI, said reliable power drives regional economic growth.
He noted that as Mindanao’s economy continues to expand, it is essential to attract foreign investments and support key sectors, including but not limited to agriculture.
“Hindi lamang sapat na may available na power supply; we must also ensure that our infrastructure can support future growth and that even our far-flung communities are not left behind,” he said.
Jubahib noted the necessity of alignment between national regulators and grid operators, including the Department of Energy, the Energy Regulatory Commission, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to resolve grid connection constraints.
This, he said, is essential for emerging renewable energy projects such as solar farms and waste-to-energy facilities.
Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo lauded Mindanao’s shift from historical supply deficits to a capacity surplus, as well as the landmark energization of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP).
Bacordo said the MVIP stage two is underway, which is expected to add another 450 kilowatts of capacity, increasing its total capacity to 900 kilowatts.
“This would allow greater control by directional power exchange within Mindanao and the Visayas,” he said.
Bacordo detailed ongoing initiatives to achieve a 50 percent renewable energy share in Mindanao’s energy mix by 2030, including the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) and targeted hydro capacity projects under Green Energy Auction 7.
Household electrification in Mindanao has also reached 85.7 percent as of June 2026, and efforts are being accelerated alongside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as it remained at 51.2%.
“Energy security is not merely an economic metric; it is the very foundation of lasting peace and true economic independence in the South,” Bacordo stressed.
Aldo Ramos, AboitizPower Distribution Utilities president and chief operating officer, warned against complacency as energy consumption rises. He reported that Mindanao currently maintains a surplus with over 4,600 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity against a peak demand of roughly 2,700 MW.
It can be noted that the Mindanao grid experienced yellow and red alerts triggered when regional supply reserves tightened.
“Demand is still rising, and the DOE has told us that the margin of safety will be eaten up over time. So we need to move now and protect Mindanao so that we can continue the stability we have today,” Ramos stressed.
