Ample supply of power in South for polls – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - There will be ample supply of power in Mindanao during the elections on Monday, Malacañang gave assurance yesterday, as Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon suffered blackouts while preparations for the polls were still ongoing.

Lack of electricity is expected to affect the operations and transmission of votes from the precinct count optical scan machines.

Long hours of blackouts are still being reported in many areas of Mindanao due to lack of supply. Generator sets are being eyed as temporary solution to the Mindanao energy problem as power plants will only be fully in place in 2015.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla promised that energy supply in Mindanao would be sufficient during the polls considering that it would be a holiday.

In a press briefing, Valte said businesses and the big industries requiring a certain amount of power would not be in operation on Monday.

Valte said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) also noted there would be backup generators in case of power failure not just in Mindanao but in other areas as well.

“At least, that is what I heard from them when they were answering questions on contingencies that they have prepared for,” she said.

Valte said the Comelec would also be in a better position to explain how it is preparing for areas traditionally encountering problems like the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other areas in the South.

Meanwhile, Therma Marine Inc., an AboitizPower subsidiary, has finally completed repairs on one of the generators of its power barge moored in Maco, Compostela Valley, bringing back at least 50 megawatts (MW) to the Mindanao grid in time for Monday’s polls.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) yesterday placed the shortage in Mindanao at 199 MW, as the demand peaked at 1,162 MW as against the actual supply of only 963 MW.

This, as one of the generators of the power barge in Maco conked out and underwent much-needed repairs last March. 

The Maco barge and another barge moored in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte produce a combined total of 200 MW of peaking power for Mindanao. Each barge is composed of two generators. 

The barges of Therma Marine have been running almost like a baseload power plant just to help ease the power crisis in Mindanao, according to AboitizPower officials.

AboitizPower said the returning capacity of the Maco power barge has been distributed to 23 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities that signed up with Therma Marine last weekend. 

Hard-hit areas like General Santos City and Zamboanga City, both experiencing up to eight-hour blackouts every day, will have some relief with the additional capacity from Therma Marine, AboitizPower said in a statement. â€“ With Edith Regalado