CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has ordered Powersource Philippines Inc. (PSPI) to stop operations on Malapascua Island due to extended power outages and environmental violations affecting daily life and tourism.
Malapascua Island, in northern Cebu, is a famous tourist and diving spot.
Garcia signed an executive order on August 6 to halt all PSPI activities on the island. The Daanbantayan local government, Barangay Logon, and the Philippine National Police were tasked with enforcing the order.
Residents and the Malapascua Business Association complained about PSPI's services, citing long power outages, reliance on personal generators during peak hours, and unjustified disconnection notices despite timely payments.
A major blackout on August 5 intensified these issues, prompting immediate action.
Capitol's Sugbo News page reported that an Environmental Management Bureau inspection on July 26 to 27 found PSPI's critical violations: operating without an Environmental Compliance Certificate, improper hazardous waste storage, and exceeding effluent standards for oil and grease. All these are said to have posed significant risks to residents, tourists, and the ecosystem.
In response, the provincial government installed generator sets to provide stable power. Garcia led the switch-on of 4,500+ kilovolt-amperes (KVA) generators, ensuring uninterrupted power for about 1,800 households and 68 businesses on the island.
Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura said that the new generator sets would provide 24/7 power stability and praised Garcia's swift action in addressing the power issues and exploring alternative power suppliers for the island.
This intervention coincided with Cebu Province's 455th founding anniversary. Instead of attending Capitol celebrations, Garcia traveled to Malapascua to oversee the power switch-on.
The Capitol's four generator sets, each providing 500 KVA, met Malapascua's peak power demand of 2 megawatts. The formal cease and desist order was delivered to PSPI's Site Supervisor Wensie Laplana, followed by an EMB order on August 7, reinforcing the cessation.