Power black-out persists in city as Iloilo towns report damages
Select business establishments and offices throughout Iloilo City worked on generator sets as power black-out remained and persisted here yesterday. Various radio stations were bombarded by calls from irate locals demanding an explanation from the Panay Electric Company (PECO) even as PECO emergency teams were visible on the field.
PECO’s Engineer Randy Pastolero in an interview with Junjun Sornito of Aksyon Radyo explained that flying debris posed the danger and problems to PECO’s feeder and transformer units. As such, power has to be shut-off and restoration needed to be thoroughly checked. PECO teams focused on coastal barangays and those with most number of uprooted trees that caused power interruption.
“We ask for the public’s understanding… we are working overtime to respond,” Pastolero said.
Meantime, classes were ordered suspended anew by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas in the entire Jaro and La Paz districts, the city’s perennial flood-prone areas. Yet heeding the mayor’s call, even private schools in the city proper deemed it best to do the same.
Treñas also called for an emergency session of the Iloilo City council to declare a State of Calamity. The News Today (TNT) learned that the council will convene this morning to address the matter. (See related story)
The Department of Education (DepEd) here in a separate announcement left yesterday’s decision to respective school officials saying with no storm signal out, “localized suspension” of classes was in effect.
Traffic was snarled in Jaro district as residents particularly stood guard by the Tabuc Suba bridge fearing rising riverwaters.
As of 11 a.m. yesterday, a total of 3,987 families were recorded to have been affected throughout Iloilo City.
Elsewhere in the province, first to report was the Municipality of Guimbal. Barangay Gerona- Gimeno had ten houses that were totally-damaged belonging to Aliza Gabandan, Donato Tanagon, Nonito Lubrico, Franklin Alcala, Proceso Pantaguan, Perceival Pantaguan, Estelita Bisera, Joseph Bisera, Johanna Sanes and Marites Roquero. Partially-damaged were seven homes here. In Barangay Pescadores, four houses were totally-damaged and four partially-damaged.
Total “Rapid Damage Assessment” submitted by Mayor Christine Garin recorded an early estimate of 250 persons affected from 70 families. 15 families also had to be evacuated to higher grounds and stayed in evacuation center set by the municipality.
Similar reports received by radio stations from all over Iloilo while the provincial disaster coordinating council continued to consolidate reports.