Bantayan Island braces for brownouts

CEBU, Philippines - Rotational brownouts will be experienced again in Bantayan Island due to lack of power supply.

Santa Fe Mayor Jose Esgana said the executives of Bantayan Electric Cooperative told him that the island will again experience power shortage.

"They (people) have to expect that there could be brownouts…  Ang BANELCO ug BIPCOR (Bantayan Island Power Corporation) nakig-meeting sa akoa before the elections nga aduna silay concern sa kakuwang sa ilang supply," Esgana said.

"Gi-inform lang mi nga tungod sa kakuwang (sa power supply) adunay posibilidad nga mag-brownout na pud mga next month siguro," he added.

Esgana is worried that the unstable power supply in the island may affect tourism in the town. Santa Fe, one of the towns in Bantayan Island, is known for its beach resorts that are attracting several tourists.

BIPCOR provides power to Bantayan Island and is the main power supplier of BANELCO that has been serving the three municipalities– Santa Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos since 1983.

BIPCOR plant manager, Engineer Romulo Labra, said the entire island experienced power interruption last elections due to mechanical problems. The power interruption, however, only lasted for five minutes.

BANELCO Institutional Services Division (ISD) chief Lilibeth Lariosa said power interruptions in the future are unpredictable since sudden technical problems will come up unexpectedly.

"Ang atong mga units as of now kay wala may problema. Kung ubos sad ang load kay gamay ra ang chance sa rotational brown out," she said.

She said they have already prepared measures to address supply problem at the soonest possible time. Part of the precautionary measures is to conduct preventive maintenance of the plant.

Meanwhile, Esgana is pushing for the installation of at least 50 solar-powered lights in every intersection and along the shorelines of the town to ensure the safety and security of the people, especially the tourists.

He is also eyeing to mount closed-circuit television camera in strategic locations. — (FREEMAN)