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By Hussein Macatoro

THE Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) yesterday announced that it has to resort to a load shedding schedule again because of the worsening power supply problem in Mindanao.

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The worsening power shortage in Mindanao was highlighted with the announcement of a new load shedding schedule here the same day President Aquino came over and led the switch on ceremony for the electrification of over 30 thousand sitios throughout the country as part of Malacanang’s Social Reform Agenda.

Cepalco said it started following a new schedule of rotating blackouts in the city and parts of Misamis Oriental yesterday due to the Mindanao power supply shortage.

Two and a half-hour blackouts are expected in the city until April 24. The new schedule of rotating power interruptions took effect yesterday.

In a public notice, Cepalco assistant vice president and community relations head Marilyn Chavez, said reductions in Cepalco’s hourly power supply allocations are being implemented by the  Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm). Psalm used to be the  National Power Corp. (Napocor).

Chavez said Cepalco “is constrained to once again implement load shedding within its service area.”

Cepalco also announced that power consumers in some areas would also experience a six to 12 hours of power interruption on Saturday to facilitate the request of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the relocation of an electric post at the Bugo-Casinglot boundary at Alae Bridge affected by a road widening project.

The worsening Mindanao power crisis was highlighted despite the National Electrification Administration’s electrification projects for 32,441 sitios. The ceremony was held at Sampaguita in Barangay Calangahan, Lugait, Misamis Oriental, the last sitio energized.

Aquino led the ceremony as of the sitio’s electrification.

NEA administrator Edita Bueno said the program would allow basic social services and support inclusive growth in rural areas.

“Through SEP, more people in the countryside are able to enjoy the benefits of electricity and gain access to basic social services. More rural folks are now empowered to improve their socio-economic well-being and make meaningful contributions to nation-building,” she said in a statement.

“SEP is one of this government’s strategy to realize inclusive growth for all, especially for those who live in isolated and far-flung areas and for so long endured lack of electricity in their communities,” Bueno added.

The NEA cited it energized 32,688 sitios from October 2011 until March 31, 2016, while customer connections amounted to 11.26 million.

The government office pointed out the SEP “strengthened the partnership of NEA and the electric cooperatives” to complete the energization, despite the natural and man-made calamities such as typhoons Pablo, Yolanda, and Glenda, the Zamboanga City siege, and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada said the NEA is targeting to energize another 1,000 sitios.

“NEA reached its electrification target already, but is targeting to energize another 1,000 sitios,” she said.

The SEP is part of the Energy Department’s target to energize 90 percent of the country’s households by 2017.

The NEA is an attached agency of the energy department, mandated to strengthen the electric cooperatives by ensuring efficiency, reliability and global competitiveness. (hussein macatoro)

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