With the prospect of convening a special session of Congress getting dimmer, Malacañang is exploring its alternatives to address the power crisis in Mindanao without need to seek congressional approval.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said they are looking at the possibility of leasing or renting generator sets and power barges to augment the power supply in Mindanao, among other options, that may not require the consent of lawmakers.

This as industry stakeholders said the Agus hydroelectric power plant in Lake Lanao and the Pulangi plant in Bukidnon, major sources of the Mindanao grid, might be forced to shut down if their critical low water levels continue, raising the possibility of a Mindanao-wide blackout.

Olivar said the President will consult her legal team on how to implement energy-related measures that are still within the bounds of her powers granted by the Constitution.

“Some say the government is prohibited from contracting new capacity and contracting might be interpreted to mean acquiring generating assets or constructing generating assets.

Now if we enter into temporary arrangements to lease generating sets or power barges, which we will not buy, we will not acquire, it is possible.

“Some lawyers might say that you can do that even without a special session. Let us call that an aggressive opinion which the President needs to closely study,” he said over government radio.

“We will try our best but if Congresswill not allow us, there is only so much we can do,” he added.

While the government is studying its alternative action plan, the President would still persuade lawmakers to muster a quorum for a special session to authorize her government to increase generating capacities in Mindanao, according to Olivar.

The President earlier adopted the recommendations of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to declare a power crisis in Mindanao to enable her government to implement Congress-approved measures to mitigate the problem.

By declaring a power crisis, the President could invoke Section 71 or the Electric Power Crisis Provision of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, which provides that “upon the determination by the President of an imminent shortage of the supply of electricity, Congress may authorize, through joint resolution, the establishment of additional generating capacity under such terms and conditions as it may approve.”

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Prospero Nograles have informed the President about the lack of quorum for a special session since many members of the two houses of Congress are campaigning for the polls, Olivar added.

Pending the review of extra measures to deal with the Mindanao power situation, he said the Department of Energy has proposed a load-sharing scheme in which industries may share excess electricity with other firms.

During the May 10 elections, these large power users could also take a holiday so there would be enough electricity in poll precincts especially in Mindanao which has been battling daily rotating brownouts, according to Olivar.

He also reiterated the Palace appeal to the public to conserve energy amid the dwindling generating capacity of hydroelectric plants due to the El Niño phenomenon.

Earlier, Malacañang said the President would only call a special session of Congress if lawmakers can guarantee a quorum. It would be an embarrassment if the President calls for a special session and lawmakers won’t show up, according to Palace officials.

Mindanao is experiencing up to six hours of rotating brownouts as a result of a severe shortage in the grid, which has a peak demand of 1,470 megawatts. The Agus plant has a total rated power capacity of 727 megawatts, while Pulangi has a rated power capacity of 225 MW.

Technical engineers from various electric cooperatives in Mindanao who personally visited the Agus and Pulangi plants said the water sources powering the two facilities are already in the critical stage.

“We are afraid of this situation because those power plants already suffered vibrations and this will further damage the turbines,” observed Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative Manager Engineer Noli Namocatcat.

He said it would be dangerous once the water level in Lake Lanao, source of the Agus power plant, breaches the critical level of 699.15 meters. As of last Saturday, the water level was at 700.04 meters.

The Pulangi plant is in the same situation as water reservoirs in Bukidnon that feed the Pulangi River continue to dry up due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

To date, Pulangi plant is already producing 20 megawatts below its rated capacity, contributing to the increasing deficiency in the grid.

The development has prompted the Mindanao Chamber of Commerce to appeal to concerned government agencies, especially the national government, to act fast before the situation worsens.

They said that once the Agus and Pulangi plants shut down, billions of pesos will be lost in terms of production and revenues, while thousands of employees and workers might lose their jobs.(With a report from Mike U. Crismundo)