Election integrity and poll worker safety under jeopardy due to power outages, claim climate and energy rights organizations in the Philippines.

The upcoming midterm elections in the Philippines, scheduled for May 12, 2023, have seen energy security and the transition to renewable energy emerge as key electoral issues. A recent Social Weather Stations survey revealed that 79% of Filipinos surveyed expressed support for a candidate who prioritizes these issues.

The Philippines Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has reported that the average Filipino household experiences 28 electricity supply interruptions in a year. A concerning increase of at least 10% in consumer hours lost to blackouts and power interruptions since 2015 has been observed. This situation has raised concerns about the reliability of power supply, particularly during election periods.

Election watchdog Kontra Brownout, Iwas Daya!, formed by multisectoral groups, is taking the lead in addressing this issue. They are installing solar panels in parts of General Tiburcio De Leon National High School in Valenzuela, Metro Manila, to ensure reliable power during the elections. The school, traditionally used as a polling station, will serve as a model for other public schools across the country.

The Department of Energy expects power demand in Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines, to rise by 5.4% this year. This increase in demand, coupled with record heat and rising demand, has led to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines raising its first yellow alert of the year for the Luzon grid. A yellow alert is declared when power reserves fall below safe levels; a red alert is issued if supply can no longer meet demand.

The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) has expressed concern about the risk to the electricity supply during the elections, which could endanger the effectiveness of their work and the security of the election process. TDC members will serve as electoral board members and take charge of operating vote counting machines during the elections.

Bishop Gerry Alminaza, in a statement, called for those running for election to care about socioeconomic and ecological problems in the country, particularly those affecting the poor and vulnerable. He emphasized that this election season is critical, as Filipinos are also facing other socioeconomic and ecological problems in the country.

Avril De Torres, deputy executive director of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), stated that the Philippines has abundant potential for solar energy, with an estimated solar rooftop capacity of 91 gigawatts. CEED, along with other advocates, has been pushing for the installation of solar panels in schools ahead of the elections to ensure reliable electricity supply at polling stations.

However, the name of the organization that advocated for this initiative could not be found in the search results.

Energy security expert Ariola, energy and climate programme lead at CEED, stated that brownouts and power interruptions could expose the vote counting process to tampering. This concern underscores the importance of ensuring a reliable power supply during the elections.

Principal Eddie Alarte of General Tiburcio De Leon National High School emphasized the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the voting polls during election periods. The school's solar panel installation is a significant step towards achieving this goal.

As the country prepares for its midterm elections, the focus on energy security and the transition to renewable energy is a promising sign of a more sustainable and secure future for the Philippines.

Election integrity and poll worker safety under jeopardy due to power outages, claim climate and energy rights organizations in the Philippines.