ZAMBOANGA CITY – Basilan province experienced a massive power outage on Wednesday, July 16, after the National Power Corp. (NPC) disconnected electricity to the Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) due to failure to pay its P46-million debt.
The order was contained in a letter dated July 14 from NPC President Fernando Martin Roxas to Rene Barruela, vice president of the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG).
“This is to request Western Mindanao Operations Division to disconnect Basilan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Baselco) on July 16, 2025 at 12 noon for failure to pay the amount of Forty-Six Million Two Hundred Thirteen Thousand Three Hundred Sixty Pesos and 37/100 representing its 26 April-25 May 2025 remaining current power bill balance which was due on 25 June 2025.”
In a message, Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman announced that another agreement has been reached between Baselco and the NPC for power to be restored by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. No power has been restored as of posting time.
A disconnection notice was also released by the NPC to Baselco on June 11 this year for the unpaid balance of Baselco amounting to P49,378,790.90 representing its 26 March-25 April 2025 remaining current power bill balance which was due on 25 May 2025.