THE 17-hour blackout yesterday has practically paralyzed a lot of businesses in the capital Tagbilaran City and in the entire province of Bohol.
The same massive power outrage took place on the same day last year (2021).
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which supplies electricity via distribution utilities — the two cooperatives BOHECO 1 & 2 and Bohol Light Company Inc. — announced the blackout a week before.
It said that 15-hour power outrage started at 4:00 in the morning till seven in the evening.
But worse, about three hours yesterday before seven in the evening, NGCP announced via its communication man Mike Ligalig who sent text messages that the blackout is extended up to two hours more.
The light came out just few minutes before nine in the evening.
“Extended power interruption in whole Bohol from 7:00PM to 9:00PM, today, Aug. 20, 2022. Affected were BLCI, BOHECO I and BOHECO II. Reason: Activities affected by strong rains in 138kV Tower 43 site in Ubay.”
It was not immediately known why the Power Barge 104 moored in Ubay town and the Bohol Diesel Power Plant in the city were not utilized to cushion the impact of the power outrage.
A lot of businesses closed shop for the blackout. Most of the gas stations have to put on their generator sets just to serve their daily clientele.
It was observed that people from all walks of life trooped to malls and beaches apparently just to get away from heat of their homes.
Some homeowners also had to power their homes using their respective gen-sets, reminiscent to few months after the super typhoon ‘Odette’ hit the province on December 16 2021.
Still, Bohol is suffering from unstable and unreliable power supply as it has no island-based power producer yet.
It remains relying on the 100-megawatt geothermal power via the Leyte-Bohol Interconnection passing thru the island town of President Carlos P. Garcia then to mainland, particularly the town of Ubay. (rvo)
