12/03/2026
⛽️ Possible back-to-back crises ⚡️
: Power or electricity rates may also rise up to 16% in April due to rising costs of coal and natural gas in the global market, Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said on Monday, March 9, 2026.
“If prices of fuel increase, electricity rates will also hike," Garin told reporters (in Tagalog) at a press conference on Monday.
On Tuesday, prices of petroleum products have risen significantly due to oil supply and price adjustments affected by the US-Israel war with Iran in the Middle East.
The national government and related agencies have been grappling with solutions for price caps and cushions for Filipinos amid the back-to-back crises.
For several years now, routine power outages have been a norm during summer while power grids in Luzon have been placed on yellow and red alert status by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines due to heightened demand and consumption.
Meanwhile, the DOE, the NGCP and local electric cooperatives said there is sufficient power for the big island amid consecutive power outages in summer over the last 5 years. (via Mike Lim Jr/The Northern Forum)
