Widespread Power Cuts Hit Millions in Philippines Amid Peak Heat

Millions of residents in the Philippines faced widespread power outages on Friday, May 15, 2026, during the country's hottest month. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that rolling one-hour blackouts affected Manila and the main island of Luzon starting in the mid-afternoon. These disruptions were attributed to major grid issues impacting transmission lines and scheduled maintenance shutdowns at several major power plants. Authorities warned that the outages would extend to the central islands, potentially resulting in seven-hour cuts. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin demanded a full accounting of the incident, promising a thorough examination of operational and technical compliance, though she did not specify when normal supply would resume. The crisis is particularly severe as Luzon houses nearly half of the nation's 116 million people and generates significant economic output. High temperatures have surged demand for air conditioning, exacerbating the strain on the grid. Notably, these outages occurred while government agencies were operating on a four-day work week, a measure implemented following the onset of the Iran-US-Israel conflict.