actual demand was at 342 MW. In May 2020, the forecasted demand for Negros Occidental will have a dependable capacity of 190.5 MW and Negros Oriental with 219.5 MW. The shared highest demand in 2019 was recorded at 373 MW. Deferred payment for power distributors and producers. Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation has granted extension of payment for a period of 30 days for distribution utilities and independent power producers. Likewise, a 30-day extension of bills payment was granted to Wholesale Electricity Spot Market participants. Customers of distribution utilities were given a 30-day grace period for payment of household electricity bills. DOE also allowed staggered payments in four equal installments after the ECQ. Stringent border restrictions impeded operations of power sector as backliners for COVID-19. In ensuring power was provided for the continuous operations of frontliners amid the pandemic, power sector workers acted as backliners. However, border restrictions impeded the delivery of energy goods and services. Key personnel to petroleum and power were even barred from entering certain areas due to miscommunication of directives from both national and local agencies. Continued coordination among line agencies and LGUs were made. Reduced actual office duty and majority of personnel rendered Work from Home. Online meetings were conducted among employees, other agencies and stakeholders. Clients were encouraged to conduct transactions and payments online to restrict direct interaction. For those at work, physical distancing was observed and office premises were sanitized regularly.
Water Supply Increased demand for water due to health and sanitation and other requirements under the New Normal. Health and sanitation requirements such as handwashing to address the COVID-19 threat will increase demand for water. Water is also needed for urban gardening, which is being advocated to ensure food supply to households. With competing uses, it is imperative to look at the state of the water source especially groundwater and the water system support being provided. The availability of water supply especially in water critical areas is crucial. Low rainfall during dry season and extended drought threaten the continuous water supply of the region. Groundwater is the main source of water for domestic and commercial use and agriculture is also heavily dependent on water. About 75 percent of agriculture activities use groundwater. In terms of households’ access to safe water supply, FHSIS report in 2018 show that about 92.0 percent of the 1.97 million households in Western Visayas have access to Level I, Level II and Level III potable water supply. The remaining 8.0 percent still do not have access to safe water. The low rainfall during dry season and extended drought threaten the continuous water supply of the region. Studies on water availability and quality were undertaken. The Comprehensive Water Resources Assessment for Major River Basins were conducted by National Water Regulatory Board (NWRB) for Panay River Basin and Jalaur River Basin in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Micro water resources assessment on groundwater availability was also conducted on Suague River in Mina, Iloilo. There were eight operational monitoring wells that were Western Visayas COVID-19 Regional Recovery Plan Assessment of the Effect of COVID-19 in Region VI 49
