Bantayan may face blackout

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of Bantayan Island may be experiencing a blackout in the next few days.

Fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon received a report yesterday that the fuel of Bantayan Island Power Corp. (Bipcor) is good only for two days.

Diesel supply for Bipcor is reportedly not allowed by the Cebu Coast Guard to be loaded in roll-on/roll-off (roro) vessels from mainland to the island for fear of another oil spill.

Only oil tanker is allowed to carry fuel to the island but this is not available as of now, said Salimbangon.

The report was received by Salimbangon in the middle of his meeting in the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 Sub-Committee on Power yesterday.

Salimbangon brought up his concerns regarding the power situation in the different islands of the fourth district that include Bantayan.

Bipcor has five bunker/diesel-fired power plants with installed capacity of 8.34 megawatt and dependable capacity of 7.59 megawatt.

Salimbangon expressed concerns of power outages in Bantayan Island which will directly affect the tourism, marine, hog and egg industries, and the lives of the residents.

He pointed out that for egg industry alone, Bantaya supplies 1.6 million eggs per day.

Salimbangon asked the office of Gov. Hilario Davide III to intervene o after he failed to contact the Coast Guard yesterday.  (FREEMAN)