DOE-IIEE Join Forces to Audit the Country’s Power System

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) on 8 August 2016. The parties agreed to organize Task Forces consisting of DOE personnel and IIEE members that will conduct the technical audit of the generation, transmission and distribution facilities in the country.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said: “It is imperative for us to immediately determine the causes, whether technical or contractual, of the current power supply situation. We have to find a lasting solution to this recurring problem as well as establishing and institutionalizing far-reaching formulae, because it is our people who are bearing the brunt of power interruptions and we cannot allow that to continue.”

On a pro-bono basis, the DOE tapped IIEE for being the only Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC)-accredited professional association in the field of electrical engineering with the necessary technical knowledge, expertise and competence to assist the DOE in addressing the current power situation. The IIEE has 47,000 licensed and competent electrical engineers and master electricians across the country.

Pursuant to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the DOE and IIEE agreed to look into current mechanisms aimed at ensuring the safety, efficiency, quality, reliability and security of the power system.

The audit is also envisioned to disentangle and unbundle the flaws in the generation-transmission-distribution chain that cause deficiencies in our power supply.

The agreement was brought to the table because of the recent spate of power supply reserve deficiencies due to forced outages of major plants in Luzon. These deficiencies resulted to rotational brownouts in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in the past few days.

Present during the signing ceremony were (L-R) IIEE National President Larry C. Cruz and DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, along with Atty. Felix Wimpy Fuentebella, DOE Spokesperson; Mr. Ramon P. Ayaton, Executive Director; Engr. Rogelio M. Avenido, 1986 National President; Engr. Alex C. Cabugao, 2014 National President; Engr. Florigo C. Varona, VP for External Affairs; Pete L. Ilagan, DOE Spokesperson; Engr. Florencio D. Berenguel, National Auditor; Engr. Ariel P. Duran, Former Metro Manila Regional Governor; Engr. Hipolito A. Leoncio, 2008 National President; Atty. Gerardo D. Erguiza Jr.; Engr. Arwin L. Ardon, PNOC-RC President and Dir. Arthus T. Tenazas, DOE Legal Services.

The DOE assures the public that it continues to monitor the developments in the power industry and to exhaust all possible measures to resolve the power supply situation in the country.