Marcos calls for review of NGCP franchise over blackout

House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos called for a review of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) franchise following last week's power outage in Western Visayas.

Marcos filed House Resolution 1534 to seek congressional inquiry into the blackout, emphasizing the need to revisit and reassess NGCP's franchise and explore separating its functions.

The resolution aims to ensure timely transmission system expansion to meet development needs and grants ERC authority to impose daily administrative penalties of up to P2 million on NGCP for regulatory violations.

NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza warned that amending the company's franchise could make the Philippines a risky investment area, but said the company welcomes any review and is ready for inquiries in both chambers of Congress.

The blackout affected Panay Island, prompting local authorities to suspend classes and causing business losses; power supply was restored on January 5 according to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Marcos noted that the DOE appears to blame NGCP for the blackout, citing a two-hour window when preventive measures could have been taken.

Lawmakers like Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro also called for an investigation into the incident.