Carnaza residents want power back

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of the farthest island barangay of the Province of Cebu, Carnaza, in the municipality of Daanbantayan are longing for electricity.

Barangay captain Jose Moreno voiced this out during the campaign of One Cebu and Nacionalista Party candidates last Wednesday.

Present during the campaign were Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot of NP and One Cebu allies fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia who is running for governor, suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Provincial Board Members Sun Shimura and Joven Mondigo Jr.

Moreno said that the electricity in the island used to be supplied by a cooperative but it stopped operation in 2003.

Since then, the residents were deprived of electricity except those who can afford to buy individual generators.

“Nangandoy gyud mi nga mabalik na unta ang suga,” Moreno said.

Salimbangon assured the people to make the electrification project in the island his priority after the election.

Salimbangon said that there are two systems now being studied; solar power and generators.

It takes more than two hours by boat ride to reach Carnaza Island from the northern most tip of Daanbantayan town in the mainland of the Province of Cebu.

Carnaza Island is even closer to some islands in Leyte and Biliran provinces than mainland Cebu.

There are more than 600 households in the island with more than a thousand registered voters.

Salimbangon also promised to construct a health center after the election.

Even if the residents of Carnaza Island can no longer vote for her, suspended Gwendolyn Garcia joined the group for her last visit to thank the people.

She won in the island during the past three elections even if she did not campaign there in 2007.

She provided a pumpboat to the island, cemented the barangay road and distributed toilet bowls to 350 households. —/BRP (FREEMAN)