Treñas wants explanation on New Year's eve blackout
The city's sole power provider failed in its promise to ensure continuous flow of electricity during the New Year's eve celebration.
City Mayor Jerry Treñas thus wanted an explanation from Panay Electric Company (Peco) and power generator Panay Power Corporation (PPC) as regards the cause of the power blackout which occurred after the clock struck 12 midnight last Jan. 1, Tuesday.
Copies of their report will be furnished to the Sangguniang Panlungsod and City Legal Office (CLO) for whatever action that the legislative body will take against the power provider and the power distributor, said Treñas.
Initially, Treñas said he was informed by Peco that the citywide blackout was caused by a "pwitis" (firecracker) which hit one of its main lines.
Peco's Executive Vice President Engr. Randy Pastolero, however, in various radio interviews clarified that the power outage emanated from the transmission lines of the National Transmission Commission (Transco).
Pastolero even hinted that Peco's operations could have been "sabotaged" during that very important moment which was the New Year's eve celebration.
Pastolero said they were able to gradually restore electricity after around 15 minutes.
Last Christmas day the city also incurred a power blackout which infuriated Mayor Treñas and the city residents. Peco then claimed that the blackout was caused by the missing equipment of Transco which was stolen in Barangay Mansaya, Lapaz.
Treñas noted that as far as he can remember it was the first time that the city was in total darkness during welcoming of the New Year.