CEBU — The Provincial Government of Cebu is encouraging investors in the power industry to consider putting up a nuclear plant in Cebu to provide a lasting solution to the power crisis in the Visayas grid.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the province has been interested in renewable energy and other forms of energy to address the power crisis now hitting Cebu and the rest of the provinces under said grid.

"We are encouraging power industry players to consider putting up nuclear power plants in Cebu," said Garcia during Tuesday's 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

Garcia took notice of Korea's nuclear power plant as an example of an effective and long term power solution to the crisis.

If given another mandate by the Cebuanos, Garcia said she will sit down with the private sector and power industry investors to discuss long term solution to the energy crisis, including the possibility of a nuclear power plant in Cebu.

She also said that “what we would wish to see is more power plants coming in.”

As Cebuanos now feel the effects of the power shortage with the regular rotating brownouts, Garcia assured the public that there is no cause for alarm.

"Don't panic," Garcia undelined, adding that Cebuanos should instead face the challenge and join hands in providing a lasting solution to the problem.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines announced last Saturday a 200-mw power shortage in the Visayas for the next 10 days while preventive maintenance on the Mahanagdong geothermal power plant in Leyte is conducted.

At the same time, major power plants in Cebu will also not be able to supply demand because of maintenance work and lack of fuel.

Garcia and power industry representatives and the private sector were set to meet Tuesday afternoon as she wanted to get first-hand information on the reported power shortage in the province.

Garcia called on the business sector to do something about the power crisis.

Instead of raising fears of losses in investments, she challenged the business sector to join in the Visayan Electric Company's (VECO) power shedding program called the interruptible load agreement.

The agreement gives incentives to companies that use their generator sets during peak hours.

“Do not curse the darkness, light a candle,” declared the Cebu Governor. “Run your own generators because you have the capacity to produce your own power so that ordinary consumers will not be burdened. Let’s do our own share in addressing this challenge.”

In response to her call, over 20 companies expressed committed to the agreement.