During a recent briefing, Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Sharon Garin announced that the Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (SIPCOR) is committed to improving the power situation in the province within the week. This commitment comes after Siquijor was declared under a state of calamity due to prolonged power outages.

Garin mentioned that SIPCOR has pledged to address the issues with their generator sets promptly. Out of the nine gensets, only five were operational at the time, which led to the power crisis. To rectify this, SIPCOR has already received two new generator sets, with one arriving yesterday and another today. The hope is to have them connected to the system by the weekend.

Various government agencies, including the National Electrification Administration (NEA), are collaborating to resolve the power crisis in Siquijor. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. also visited the province to assess the situation and ordered the deployment of emergency generator sets from Palawan to alleviate the power shortage.

In a separate development, the Department of Energy expressed gratitude to Congress for ratifying the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, establishing the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM). Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla commended the passage of the bill after 18 years, while Garin emphasized the importance of having a legal framework to guide the development of nuclear energy infrastructure in the country.

Garin clarified that the establishment of PhilATOM does not immediately translate to the construction of a nuclear power plant. The creation of this regulatory authority is a crucial step towards ensuring that all aspects of nuclear energy infrastructure adhere to the highest safety and security standards. The goal is to attract global investors interested in the country's nuclear potential.

Once enacted into law, PhilATOM will serve as the Philippines' primary regulator for the peaceful and secure use of nuclear energy and radiation sources. It will also be the official national point of contact in case of nuclear emergencies, aligning with international conventions and agreements.

While the country aims to have its nuclear power plant operational by 2032 as per the Philippine Energy Plan, Garin emphasized the need for a meticulous and compliant approach to nuclear infrastructure development, following the International Atomic Energy Agency's stringent guidelines.