Blackouts back as Lake Lanao dries up

By KRISTIAN DAVE ACHONDO
Desk Editor
and LITO RULONA
Correspondent

POWER supply allocations across Mindanao have been significantly reduced again as the primary sources of hydroelectric power in the grid continue to dry up. The water levels have reportedly reached critical points.

Parts of Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro experienced rotating blackouts on Friday, and another schedule of rolling power interruptions takes effect today until March 2 due to the worsening power shortage.

Ralph Paguio, senior vice president of the Cagayan Electric Power and Lights Co. (Cepalco), said the water levels of Lake Lanao and Pulangi have continued to drop.

He said Cepalco resorted to 2.5-hour rotational blackouts after after the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee said the water levels have reached critical points.

“Kung padayon pa nga mo-ubos mapugos kita og dugang sa area nga mag-brownout matag adlaw. Kung pila ang gapangayu-on nga NGCP nga magpalong mao usab atong tumanon,” Paguio said.

Cepalco said the firm is forced to implement daily rotating blackouts of two hours and 30 minutes in different areas divided into four groups.

Group 1 is composed of areas in Villanueva, Camaman-an, Cogon, Kauswagan, Bulua and Iponan where blackouts can be expected from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.

Group 2 is composed of parts of Carmen, Upper Balulang, Barangay Bonbon, Bayabas, Pagatpat, Zayas, Tablon, Malasag, Cugman, Baloy, Gusa, Lapasan and Agora where blackouts are expected from 5 pm to 7:30 pm.

Group 3, where blackouts are expected from 9:30 am to 12 noon, include parts of Tagoloan, all of Jasaan, Bugo, Puerto, Nazareth, Macasandig, Patag, and the city proper.

Group 4 is composed of NHA Phase 1 and 2, Capisnon, RER Subdivision, Macabalan, Balulang, Lumbia, PN Roa and all of Barangay Consolacion. Blackouts in these areas are expected from 12 noon to 2:30 pm.

Cepalco said there would be no power interruption if load levels are within allocation depending on the actual load curtailment levels set by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).