By Reem Pandapatan
MSU Inter
DESPITE its reputation as one of Mindanao’s most urbanized cities, Cagayan de Oro still experiences occasional power outages in several barangays, raising concerns among residents about why these issues persist in a modernizing city.
While the Mindanao grid currently enjoys stable electricity supply, certain areas in the city continue to deal with unexpected outages.
These incidents are often linked to localized technical problems such as overloaded transformers, damaged lines or old electrical facilities that struggle to meet increasing demand.
Sheena Macos, a resident of Burgos Street, Barangay 10, shared her frustration.
“Nakakapagtaka kasi parang ang modern na ng CDO, pero bakit parang ang hirap pa rin sa basic services tulad ng kuryente. Ang daming bagong buildings at negosyo, pero kami dito sa mismong sentro, nagkaka-brownout pa rin,” Macos said.
Residents in Barangay Balulang also experienced sudden outages. Princess Haynee B. Pangcatan, a resident from the area, recalled a recent incident.
“Actually, nakakagulat kasi buong barangay nag-brownout tas usually bumabalik siya mga 5 to 10 minutes, pero inabot na talaga ng isang oras. Sobrang hassle lalo na sa mga may negosyo at yung mga may online work,” Pangcatan said.
Most of these outages tend to occur in densely populated areas, where electricity consumption has surged in recent years.
Although the city has enough overall power, the local distribution infrastructure in certain parts has yet to fully catch up with Cagayan de Oro’s rapid urbanization.
Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company, Inc. and local officials have ongoing projects aimed at upgrading aging electrical lines and equipment in affected barangays.
However, residents continue to call for more immediate solutions to prevent these power interruptions from becoming a regular inconvenience.
