Western Visayas, comprised by the islands of Panay, Negros ang Guimaras, suffered massive power outages Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 29, and Wednesday morning, Oct. 30.
The first widespread blackout occurred at 5:27 p.m. Tuesday.
According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), it monitored a “grid disturbance” which resulted in the loss of power on the islands.
NGCP operates, maintains and develops the country’s state-owned power grid, an interconnected system that transmits electricity from where it is produced to where it is needed.
Michelle Visera, NGCP regional corporate communications and public affairs officer, said investigation is ongoing to determine what really caused the power cut.
Another massive blackout transpired around 8:02 a.m. on Wednesday. It irked consumers of power distributors Panay Electric Company (PECO), Iloilo Electric Cooperatives (ILECO) I, II and III, Guimaras Electric Cooperative (GUIMELCO), Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO), Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO) and Aklan Electric Cooperation (AKELCO).
Visera said it was due to the “tripping of the 138kV Negros – Panay submarine cable.”
Power transmission services were fully restored in the affected areas at 10:11 a.m.
But in some areas covered by PECO are not yet energized as of this writing.
Mikel Afzelius, PECO corporate communications officer, said 60 to 70 percent of the city has power.
“Halos all districts may power but may portion sang mga district nga waay man power,” he said.
According to Afzelius, they are still waiting for Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) Unit 3 of the coal-fired power plant to go online for the remaining areas in the city to be energized.
“As per PEDC under Global Business Power (GBP), pwede tani nila supplyan ang bilog na city kagina pero gina punggan sila sang NGCP tungod unstable pa ang transmission lines sang NGCP,” he said.
“Ga hulat ang PEDC further clearance halin NGCP antis maka supply sa PECO para ma totally restore ang remaining areas sa Iloilo City,” Afzelius added.
GBP, through its subsidiary PEDC, supplies power in most parts of WV.IMT