In his visit to Occidental Mindoro today, 29 April 2023, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda announced that Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corporation (OMCPC) agreed to simultaneously operate its three power plants to avert the 20-hour rotational brownout in the province.

The NEA Chief said that this agreement came after he met with Mr. Luis Manuel Banzon, the owner of OMCPC.

"I want to reassure that our President and our government, both at the national and the local level have been tirelessly working to solve the power crisis. With that, I am glad to announce a very welcome development... Mr. Banzon and OMCPC have agreed to run all of its power plants to its capacity at 30 MW, which covers Occidental Mindoro's peaking demand. Sa madaling salita, at base sa aming kalkulasyon, sa pag-andar lahat ng planta ng OMCPC, lubos na mababawasan ang brownout sa probinsya, kung hindi man ito tuluyang matigil na," the Administrator said in a press conference.

The NEA Chief, together with Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela and Governor Eduardo Gadiano visited OMCPC. They led the switching on of the OMCPC power plants on Saturday.

With the operation of the three power plants: the 5 MW Sablayan plant, the 7 MW MAPSA plant, and the 20 MW SAMARICA plant, the Administrator announced the changes on the plan of action for the province. He explained that the lease and operate agreement entered into by NEA and Power Systems, Inc. (PSI) for the operation of the latter's power plant at a capacity of 5 MW will continue to operate albeit in a reserve capacity. The Administrator also announced the developments regarding the Emergency Power Supply Agreement with DMCI Power Corporation and the modular gensets being transported to the province.

"Ang PSI ay magiging standby power na lamang ngayong gumagana na ang mga planta ng OMCPC... Second, the intended Emergency Power Supply Agreement with DMCI Power Corp. will not push through. Hindi na po natin itutuloy ang Emergency Power Supply Agreement para hindi magbayad ng mataas na kuryente ang mga kababayan natin dito sa Occidental Mindoro. Third, the modular generators being transported to the province originally intended to service its public schools and hospitals will be kept here in case the same should be needed," the NEA Chief told the media.

As the lead agency in resolving the power crisis in Occidental Mindoro, the NEA will continue to closely monitor the situation in the province.###