CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines – Acknowledging that the reserve power for Cebu will not be enough to last the next five years, the business sector here is urging all sectors concerned to act fast and start building new power plants to prevent a power crisis.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Samuel Chioson said the chamber has been conducting consultations with agencies concerned in order to discuss new sources of energy that will address the impending power crisis in Cebu five years from now.

“The power reserve of Cebu is not enough to last for five years. We need to act fast,” said Chioson during the weekly 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu City Tuesday.

Cebu Business Month Chairperson Nonoy Espeleta said one of the important matters that will be discussed during the coming month-long celebration of the business sector will be sources of alternative energy that intended to effectively address the requirements of Cebu's business and industry.

“If you have no power, you will have no business,” said Espeleta, as he pointed out that the business sector is also looking at tapping solar, wind, and other power sources for Cebu's business and industry requirements.

He, however, stressed that the business sector is not against the construction of coal-fired power plants “as long as agencies concerned will see to it that the emission of these plants will be not be disastrously detrimental to the environment.”

Earlier, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, quoting energy officials, said the soon-to-be completed power plants of Korea Electric Power Company (Kepco) and Cebu Energy Development Corp. (CEDC) will both be able to produce a total aggregate capacity of 136 megawatts that will most likely be sufficient for the next half decade.