Lapu-Lapu City officials have firmly dismissed social media reports alleging a power failure and lack of a generator at the city hospital's emergency room on Saturday, April 18, 2026, categorizing the claims as "fake news." Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Junard Chan and Hospital Administrator Lynart Kevin Omnes clarified that the facility maintains a fully functional backup power system, though temporary delays can occur due to manual switching during power fluctuations.
Social Media Complaint Sparks Controversy
A complaint regarding ER conditions at Lapu-Lapu City Hospital emerged after a resident, Kaye Gabutan from Barangay Babag, alleged on Facebook that there was no generator available when she brought her injured 81-year-old grandmother to the facility during a power interruption. Gabutan stated in a phone interview with SunStar Cebu that she arrived at the hospital around 10 p.m. on Saturday and found the ER in darkness. She inquired with hospital staff and was told that while the hospital has a generator, the ER does not have a dedicated one.
Her grandmother had sustained a fractured hand and a possible pelvic injury earlier that day in an accident. Gabutan reported that the situation persisted for nearly an hour without immediate power restoration, noting that other hospital areas were powered by the generator while the ER remained without electricity. She expressed frustration, highlighting in Cebuano that the golden time for emergencies is eight to ten minutes and questioning the impact on patients with life-threatening conditions.
Official Responses and Clarifications
Representative Chan responded to Gabutan's post in the comments section, labeling it as "fake news" and a "political smear campaign." He emphasized that the hospital has a working generator and that the power interruption was brief, with electricity quickly restored. Chan also mentioned that an annual budget is allocated to continuously enhance hospital facilities and services.
Hospital Administrator Omnes provided further details in a separate interview, explaining that the hospital is equipped with a generator under the Department of Health, which regulates operations and provides guidelines, including recommendations for an automatic transfer switch. He clarified that the generator supplies power to the entire hospital, not just the ER, and addressed the delay by citing a transformer explosion near the area. Maintenance personnel had to inspect fluctuating breakers and double-check the system before restoring power.
Technical and Operational Insights
Omnes elaborated that the hospital relies on two power sources, and switching between them during failures requires time. Additionally, idle offices are shut down before activating the generator to prioritize occupied areas, contributing to delays. According to hospital records, a doctor reported a power interruption at approximately 10:14 p.m., with electricity restored by 10:39 p.m. Omnes assured that no patients were compromised during the incident.
He also noted that as a level 1 hospital, it lacks advanced life support machines, but most ER equipment has batteries lasting hours during outages before recharging. Oxygen supply, he clarified, does not require electricity as it is regulated through tank systems. To improve services, an automatic transfer switch and transformer are pending installation, with completion targeted for May. The hospital has requested an additional generator following DOH monitoring, and the City Engineering Office is conducting an on-site assessment to determine required specifications.
