ILOILO City – Long brownouts, scheduled and unscheduled, got on the nerves of Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) members.
They demanded better service from MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) which promised Ilonggos better service when it applied for a power distribution franchise in 2018.
These power interruptions that stretched for up to 13 hours were such an inconvenience to residents and businesses, according to Councilor Ely Estante during the SP regular session yesterday.
If not averted, the brownouts could adversely affect the local economy, he warned.
“Not only last Saturday did we suffer from a brownout but on other days, as well. MORE Power said it was fixing its facilities but 13 hours of no power are too much to bear. It is very hot and humid these days,” said Estante.
MORE Power should have brought its own new and better power distribution facilities instead of just using the old and dilapidated system of previous power distributor Panay Electric Co. (PECO), stressed Estante.
“How about if we call for an investigation in aid for legislation so that all questions sang mga tawo masabat,” Estante told fellow city councilors.
Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo, for his part, said the power interruptions were dismaying.
“I remember the words spoken and spread all over the city by the drumbeaters of MORE Power – that PECO was very irresponsible, that PECO had so many shortcomings in terms of service and frequent brownouts. We, the people, thus welcomed MORE Power. But now I am dismayed. My heart trembles in frustration. The things we complained about are still happening,” said Peñaredondo.
The most senior SP member admitted he was “so enthusiastic” when MORE Power arrived. As well-financed company, he said, he expected MORE Power to be capable of giving better power distribution service.
“But nothing is happening. I have yet to hear its program of development for the next 11 months or one year,” said Peñaredondo.
He stressed the importance of the city’s having a reliable power supply and distribution system.
“Iloilo is a fast-growing city. It is the center of education and commerce, even tourism, in Western Visayas. Ilonggos seek a better life and comfortable life. Reliable power service is a very important component of development,” said Peñaredondo.
Right now however, he said, “We feel desperate.”
“I am calling the leaders of MORE Power to stand by their words. Give better and efficient service to the people of Iloilo City. We deserve it,” added Peñaredondo.
He also said Mayor Jerry Treñas and Cong. Julienne Baronda should “put pressure and remind MORE Power that the Ilonggos do not deserve lousy service as far as power is concerned.”
For his part, Councilor Jay Treñas recalled the time MORE Power made assurances to the city council.
“Ang MORE Power nagkadto diri sa aton sa city council…nag-assure sila sa atubang naton nga they will render service much better sang amo to nga tiempo sang PECO,” said Treñas.
But what’s happening now, he said, is that today’s brownouts appear much longer than those during the time of PECO.
“Sadto ang brownout tama ka frequent. Subong frequent man gihapon but mas malawig. Amo na nga may frustration sa mga Ilonggos. Ang problema pa gid, sa patay and andar sang kuryente ang ila mga kagamitan nagakalaguba,” added Treñas.
This is not the time, stressed the councilor, “nga magpa-uyaya kita. The people of Iloilo deserve more (than brownouts). MORE Power promised more. We are still waiting for MORE to give us what they promised.”
Councilor Alan Zaldivar, on the other hand, could not help but compare the current performance of MORE Power with that of PECO.
“Indi naton ma-set aside ang mag-compare. PECO fixed their feeders from three to four hours, five hours at the most. With MORE Power, siling nila i-fix nila but we have to wait for 13 hours para ma-restore ang electricity. This is too much,” said Zaldivar.
Like Councilor Estante, he wondered why MORE Power insisted on using PECO’s power distribution facilities when it knew that these were already problematic.
“If it has the financial capacity, it should put up new equipment para ipakita sa bug-os nga syudad nga capable sila,” saidZaldivar.
Meanwhile, Councilor Lyndon Acap said the city council should be appraised of MORE Power’s development plan or program for Iloilo City.
“We deserve to know its development plan. Hatagan kita plano kag time frame,” said Acap.
Councilor Romel Duron, chairperson of the SP committee on public utilities, said scheduled power interruptions are understandable “but not long and unscheduled once like what happened last Saturday evening (June 20) until early Sunday morning affecting the entire district of Mandurriao.”
Pther districts, too, suffered power interruptions, added Duron – parts of Molo, Arevalo and Jaro.
Duron said MORE Power’s spokesperson Jonathan Cabrera offered the following explanation for the recent brownouts:
* overheated connector near Mango Tree Restaurant on Guzman Street, Mandurriao
* damaged suspension insulator along Oñate de Leon Street, Mandurriao
* damaged suspension insulator and primary jumper dropping wire near McDonald’s at the Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao
* damaged primary line conductor across Chicken Sari-Sari Store/PN
