Sen. Hontiveros seeks probe on Luzon brownouts affecting vaccine storage

Senator Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel is calling for an investigation into the rotational brownouts affecting Luzon, particularly noting the impact on vaccine storage.

Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo also initiated a congressional inquiry into the power interruptions, emphasizing their adverse effects on vaccine refrigeration, online classes, and businesses.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Luzon grid on red and yellow alert due to low electricity reserves and supply amid high demand, leading to rotational brownouts.

Energy officials attributed the outages to planned and unplanned maintenance shutdowns of power plants and generators failing to deliver contracted capacity.

Despite assurances of sufficient supply during summer, brownouts occurred, prompting questions about withheld supply or failure to secure necessary reserves.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reminded local government units to secure uninterruptible power supply for vaccine cold storage facilities.