Defensor Sees Solution to Frequent Brownouts

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. predicts power consumers in Iloilo province can expect fewer and shorter power interruptions in the coming days.

Following his initial talks with officials of Salcon Island Power Corp. (SIPC), operator of the Panay Diesel Power Plant in Dingle, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. assured the Ilonggos solution to frequent brownouts is on hand.

Defensor expects an agreement between SIPC and Greencore Power Corporation based in Negros Occidental would partially solve the power problem in Iloilo province and the entire Panay Island.

However, he refused to give details about the agreement in order not to preempt the transaction.

"We will disclose the details as soon as the agreement is perfected," Defensor said, adding "but definitely once the agreement is realized it will solve the recurrent and rotating brownouts in the city and province of Iloilo."

Meanwhile, an official of the National Power Corporation (NPC) on Thursday apprised the Iloilo Governor of the power situation in the entire Visayas region.

NPC marketing and commercial relations manager Salvador Sarmiento, Jr. said the power shortage problem on Panay Island is caused by the constraint affecting the submarine cable.

He said the submarine cable, which brings power to the Panay-Guimaras area, has already reached its maximum load of 80 megawatts.

"Even if there is excess power from the grid, it could no longer be funneled to Panay since the submarine cable could no longer carry it," he said.

In another develop-ment, Defensor urged Sarmiento to delay the privatization of the Unified Leyte Power Plant as it would worsen the power problem in Iloilo and Panay Island.

Defensor said the mayors of Iloilo province are preparing a petition to oppose the NPC’s plan to privatize the power plant. (PNA)/MP