Cebu investments at risk amid rising power woes

Cebu's private sector is warning that tightening power supply, coupled with political uncertainty, is emerging as a material risk to investment, particularly for manufacturers and export-oriented firms that depend on stable and competitively priced electricity.

- By Ehda M. Dagooc

Electricity demand in Cebu is rising by about 150 megawatts a year, outstripping the pace at which new generation capacity is being added, according to Mark Anthony Ynoc, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).

The growth reflects expanding industrial activity, population increases and the rising power needs of commercial and digital enterprises across Metro Cebu.

"Demand continues to grow faster than supply," Ynoc said. "If this imbalance is not addressed soon, the risk of disruptions becomes a serious concern for investors who require reliability and predictability."