Power Outage Hits DOE Press Briefing in Taguig
BROWNOUT – An unexpected power outage disrupted the Department of Energy (DOE) press conference on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at its office in Taguig City.
The event, led by Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, was intended to highlight the country’s stable and sufficient power supply. Ironically, the power went out while Secretary Lotilla was discussing the topic, causing a blackout that lasted for about 10 minutes. Fortunately, a backup generator was activated quickly, allowing the press briefing to continue.
According to Secretary Lotilla, the incident was limited to the building and was likely caused by the simultaneous use of media equipment, which overwhelmed the building’s electrical system. He emphasized that it was an isolated incident and does not reflect the overall condition of the country’s power supply. “We really have to take it into account next time,” he added, acknowledging the need to improve the venue’s power capacity for future events.
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) immediately responded and sent a repair team to assess the issue. The team discovered that the blackout was caused by a blown fuse in the building’s loadside facility. Meralco confirmed that it was a facility-specific issue and was not connected to the main power grid. “It appears to be a problem with the loadside facility, as our crews found a blown fuse at the building,” the company said in a statement. They also assured the public that they are working closely with the DOE to resolve the issue and fully restore power.
Despite the unexpected interruption, Secretary Lotilla reiterated that the country’s energy supply remains stable and reliable. He highlighted that even during critical periods, such as the recent elections, no major power issues were reported. “I think, from what you have seen during the election period and during critical times the power was on, I think that’s more important,” he said, reassuring the public of the government’s commitment to ensuring continuous electricity service.