The residents of Occidental Mindoro will have additional power supply starting 29 April 2023 after the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Power Systems, Inc. (PSI) agreed in principle to operate the PSI power plant in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

The agreement was the result of NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda’s visit to the province last Tuesday, 25 April 2023. The NEA Chief inspected the power plant of PSI which has a dependable capacity of 5-6 MW. This would give the residents of Occidental Mindoro roughly 6-7 hours of electricity per day.

Based on the agreement, the NEA will contract PSI for a period of two months as a matter of subsidy from the National Government. The cost of the operation will not be passed on to the consumers.

"NEA will cover for the cost of operation for the first two months, that is the help we'll get from the National Government in the person of President Bongbong Marcos," Administrator Almeda said in a press conference.

Leasing the PSI power plant is only one of the measures undertaken by the Administrator to resolve the power crisis in Occidental Mindoro. He likewise requested DMCI Power Corporation (DPC) to immediately supply power to the Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (OMECO) after the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Certificate of Exemption from the conduct of the Competitive Selection Process (COE-CSP) for the negotiated procurement of 17 MW Emergency Power Supply Agreement (EPSA).

"The DMCI promised to roll out 10 MW in a matter of 30 days and the 7 MW in two months," the Administrator told the media last 24 April 2023. The EPSA would last only until 31 March 2024, which would give OMECO time to conclude its Competitive Selection Process to procure power for its long-term energy requirements.

Also, two (2) units of diesel generator sets (at 2 MW per unit) in the possession of electric cooperatives (ECs) in Region VIII have been assessed and are in the process of being shipped to Occidental Mindoro, intended to supply additional electricity to some vital services in Occidental Mindoro such as hospitals and schools. Another two (2) units of diesel generator sets (also at 2 MW per unit) are currently being assessed, and put in reserve in case needed. The said units were procured during the time of former President Benigno Aquino III for the Mindanao power crisis in 2013.

On 26 April 2023, NEA attended an inter-agency meeting with the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and updated President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. of the steps taken and still needed to finally address the energy crisis in Occidental Mindoro. NEA will continue to lead the government's action in addressing the power supply problem in Occidental Mindoro.###