An energy emergency has pushed the municipality of Ajuy in Iloilo province into a state of calamity, with local officials warning that healthcare, water supply, education, and livelihoods have all taken a hit.
The declaration, grounded in Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 2026-088, was made public by Mayor Loida Espinosa through her social media page on Tuesday, March 31. The resolution drew from the findings of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, which determined that the energy shortage had materially disrupted services that residents depend on.
Ajuy’s municipal declaration came after several barangays had already moved on their own, with Tagubanhan, Punta Buri, and Nasidman each having issued their own calamity declarations in response to the same energy crisis.
Residents are being urged to treat electricity and fuel as scarce resources in the meantime. The municipal government specifically called on the public to limit power use to essentials, cut back on fuel consumption, avoid unnecessary trips, and consider carpooling or walking where practical. Officials framed community-wide compliance as necessary for ensuring that whatever energy remains available is directed toward critical services.
The calamity status opens up a range of legal tools for the local government to deploy. Under Republic Act No. 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, Ajuy can tap emergency funds. The Price Act, Republic Act No. 7581, gives authorities the ability to impose price controls on basic goods, while Republic Act No. 12009, the New Government Procurement Act, allows the municipality to fast-track emergency purchases and response measures.
Ajuy, situated along the northern coast of Iloilo, has contended with persistent power supply problems in its island and far-flung barangays over recent years, an underlying vulnerability that local officials have been seeking to address through longer-term energy stabilization measures.
