By NITZ ARANCON Correspondent THE Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) yesterday released another two-day schedule of rotating blackouts here as questions remained unanswered on Mindanao’s power situation. The new Cepalco schedule took effect yesterday, and would be the power consumers’ guide until today. Marilyn Chavez, Cepalco senior manager for customer and community relations, the four-hour daily rotating blackouts that started on Monday are “due to the continuing power supply shortage in Mindanao.” No details were given, and there was no information from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management-National Power Corp. (Psalm-Napocor). Information from the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) was also sketchy. It earlier revealed that the Mindanao grid lost nearly 30 mw due to a line between two Agus hydroelectric plants that couldn’t be repaired immediately because of a landowner in Marawi City who barred NGCP linemen from his property. A check with the NGCP website however showed a disturbing power situation in Mindanao. As of 1 pm yesterday, Mindanao’s power generation capacity was 1,457 mw against a peak demand of 1,439 mw. The Mindanao grid only had a reserve of 18 mw. Ralph Paguio, Cepalco senior vice president, earlier said the information he received from Psalm was that Lake Lanao, the primary source of hydroelectic power in Mindanao, reached critical level, slowing down the power generation of the Agus system. Cepalco said the power load shedding schedule had to be continued because of the power shortage. “Again, actual switch off and switch on time may vary (but still within the announced time period) depending on the actual load curtailment levels set by NGCP on Cepalco, which changes every hour. When load levels are within allocation, Cepalco will not effect any interruption at all,” said Chavez. Meanwhile, Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr.,  chairman of the city council’s committee on  energy, said he has called a meeting with executives of Cepalco, NGCP, Psalm-Napocor, and stakeholders today. “Kining atong  committee hearing, magsilbi kini nga data gathering,” said Lao. Lao and Misamis Oriental Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez said they were contemplating on authoring ordinances that would  punish landowners for planting trees in their properties near power lines to avoid a repeat of the Marawi incident. Lao said he would also look into the possibility of including in a proposed city law a provision that would compel landowners to allow linemen to have access in order to fix power lines. Pelaez said the provincial board was also looking into the possibility of approving an ordinance that would outlaw tree planting near power lines “so that our power supply will not be affected.” Pelaez said NGCP officials met with provincial board members in Aug. 15, and asked that it approve such ordinance because the problem has become widespread in Mindanao. He said they were also planning a measure that would oblige landowners to allow linemen to repair damaged lines within their properties. (with reports from hussein macatoro)