The Mindanao power crisis, after all, is a pressing issue. Some parts of the island are suffering from seven to 10-hour rotating blackouts. In Tawi-Tawi, the outages last seven hours, in the dead of night and in the scorching summer afternoon. The situation is telling. Data from the Department of Energy showed that from January to March, the total average capacity – from coal, oil-based, geothermal and hydroelectric -- in Mindanao stood at 1,267 megawatts, 1,243 MW and 1,124 MW. This is against an average demand of 1,306 MW in January, 1,305 MW in February and 1,311 MW in March. The situation is likely to stay the same until 2015. According to DOE data, projects committed in 2014 would translate to 150 MW in additional capacity and an additional 300 MW in 2015. Rey Billena, vice-president of the General Santos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in a statement that the biggest losers are the General Santos-based canning factories and the deep-sea fishing vessel operators.
Special report: In the dark on the Mindanao power crisis (First of two parts)
