Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has given a marching order for Distribution Utilities (DUs) to ensure "reliable and stable power supply" during the nationwide rollout of the vaccination program against the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
It has been widely reported that the COVID-19 vaccines need to be stored at a certain low temperature, or else they would spoil in a matter of hours. This means that stable power is an absolute necessity in order to prevent wastage of the precious vaccines.
“We have to make sure that there is a continuous supply of electricity services. The DOE has been strategizing on how to pre-empt possible issues and concerns that may arise during the rollout," Cusi said in a statement Thursday, Feb. 18.
The directive was contained in a Department of Energy (DOE) advisory dated Feb. 16, 2021. It said that the rollout will be undertaken by the Duterte administration by the end of the first quarter this year.
In the advisory, Cusi ordered all DUs to ensure continuous, reliable, and stable power supply for COVID-19 vaccine cold storage and health care facilities through back-up generating sets and/or distribution system configuration.
He further instructed them to update their emergency response protocols and Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) in order to ensure the prioritization of the COVID-19 vaccines' cold storage facilities in cases of power outages.
DUs, the DOE said, should also have enough contracted capacities for energy. Further, all DUs shall intensify vegetation management programs to eliminate power interruptions, and shall provide the necessary support for COVID-19 vaccine storage and healthcare facilities by installing their own back-up supply.