Brownouts to hit metro this weekend

Brownouts will hit several areas in metropolitan Cebu from Friday to Sunday, the Visayan Electric Company announced yesterday.

On Friday, the power outage will run from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. affecting barangays Casuntingan and Estancia, and parts of barangay Cabancalan, Tingub and Bakilid-all in Mandaue City, due to VECO's upgrading of primary lines at the lateral portion of its Mandaue substation.

Then from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., brownout will hit barangay Mabolo as VECO will relocate some of its primary lines and poles at its Mabolo substation.

In the same period, VECO will replace rotten poles at the lateral portion of its Ermita substation, resulting to power outage in barangay Kinasang-an, Pardo.

On Saturday, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., parts of barangay Kalubihan and Kamagayan-specifically Osmeña Boulevard from corner P. del Rosario Street to the corner of Colon and Sanciangko Streets-will have brownout as VECO will reroute and tap new lines in these areas.

Then from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. of the same day, brownouts will hit barangays T. Padilla, Mabolo and Carreta due to VECO's upgrading of primary lines at its Carreta substation.

On Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and then from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., VECO will remove the jumper connection and reconnect the lateral for upgrading. This means power outages in parts of Leon Kilat, P. del Rosario, N. Bacalso Avenue, Osmeña Boulevard, Urgello, Visitacion, Colon, Borromeo, Sanciangko, RR Landon and Arlington Pond.

From 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the same day, power interruptions would hit several parts of Osmeña Boulevard affecting establishments like the Cebu City Sport Complex, YMCA, PLDT Jones, Camp Sergio Osmeña, CAP and parts of A. Pond and R. Landon Extension, due to VECO's upgrading of primary lines.

Then from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., VECO will prepare the lines for tapping pre-coverted lateral lines at its Carreta substation. Power outages will hit the entire F. Ramos Street-affecting Robinsons Mall, Cebu Holiday Plaza Hotel, Midtown Hotel, Velez Hospital, Diplomat Hotel-and parts of Junquera and Ranudo Streets, and Gen. Maxilom Avenue. - Wenna A. Berondo