PPC apologizes for Monday's power blackout
Panay Power Corporation (PPC), supplier of power to the city's sole power distributor Panay Electric Company (PECO), has apologized for the power blackout that engulfed Iloilo City last Monday, April 9.
In a press statement sent to The News Today (TNT) PPC explained that "(w)e had a technical failure with out blackstart generator as we were about to bring back power supply to PECO at 6:00 a.m. after a scheduled annual maintenance on our main transformers that began midnight. We were able to start supplying power at 12:43 p.m."
The PPC management added, "(t)he incident has afforded us an opportunity to identify and improve further our maintenance procedures as we live up to our goal of providing you with more reliable supply. Again, our most sincere apologies to all of you."
The blackout which lasted for almost twelve hours got negative reactions from the city's business sector as it puts into question the reliability of power in the city.
The business community expressed that the occurrence of such a prolonged power interruption is bad for the economy. It may also drive away potential investors.
A reliable source told TNT that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Sr. called up PPC officials Monday to ask explanation over the prolonged power interruption.
Gonzalez reportedly scolded PPC officials.
The source said PPC's Vice President for Finance identified only as Mr. Sebastian planed in from Manila yesterday to check on why such power outage occurred.
TNT tried to confirm the report with Gonzalez but he was not available at press time.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday expressed that PECO and PPC has the responsibility to give the city reliable power supply.
"The city is paying P7 million a month in electricity bills. We have the right to demand uninterrupted power supply," the mayor said.
Treñas also called on PPC and PECO to avoid the occurrence of similar power outage as the city will host a national sports event next week.
Treñas said a series of conventions are also scheduled to be held in the city in the coming months so he called on both the PPC and PECO to commit a reliable source of power for said events.