IN the span of three days earlier this week, residents of Luzon, particularly in and around Metro Manila, were warned that they can expect water supply interruptions and power outages once the dry season starts, possibly both at the same time in mid-April. The news was just the latest chapter in a depressing epic of inadequacy, and the public should be forgiven if they regard all the responsible parties — government planners and regulators, and utility suppliers and distributors — with utter contempt at this point.

First, the power situation: In a press briefing, the Department of Energy (DoE) warned that there would be no margin of supply for much of the summer, and that according to its projections, during the third week of April, electricity demand will exceed supply by about 256 megawatts (MW) in Luzon. Supplies will also be tight in the Visayas and Mindanao, but it is in Luzon where periodic “brownouts” are practically inevitable.

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