Congress urged to probe Visayas power crisis as brownouts extend to nine hours

Rotational brownouts lasting up to nine hours are battering the Visayas, prompting lawmakers to demand a congressional inquiry into the region's deteriorating electricity crisis. Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez raised the alarm over the extended power cuts, which are inflicting significant economic damage and disrupting essential services. The prolonged outages have snarled school operations and strained businesses across multiple provinces in the central Philippines. Benitez called for urgent legislative action to address the root causes of the power supply shortfall and develop concrete solutions to stabilize the region's electrical system. The push for a House investigation reflects growing frustration among lawmakers and constituents over the recurring blackouts that threaten economic productivity and public welfare in the Visayas.