BORACAY – The rehabilitation work for power lines and electric posts is only 10 percent complete more than two months into this famed island resort’s half-year closure.
Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) assistant general manager Engineer Joel Martinez said their work mainly depends on the budget given to them by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Kahit mag-open ang Boracay sa Oktubre, patuloy pa rin ang rehabilitasyon natin ng mga linya,” said Martinez. “Hindi lamang ang linya sa Boracay main road ang kailangan nating i-relocate. May linya tayo sa lateral at circumferential roads na apektado din.”
Akelco targets to relocate around 400 of the 800 electric posts in the island that stand in the way of DPWH’s road widening project, which began on April 26, the first day of the island shutdown.
“Akelco will be working double time for the rehabilitation. We can proceed if the budget from DPWH to purchase the electric posts and maintenance materials is available,” Martinez said.
Maintenance equipment from Akelco’s Lezo main office was transferred to its stockyard in the island since late April.
The equipment was used to relocate the poles and lines.
“Kailangan malinis din natin ang mga crossroad lines para maganda naman tingnan ang ating linya sa Boracay,” said Martinez.
Lines of cable and telephone companies will also be cleared in areas affected by the road widening project, specifically from Cagban port to barangays Manoc-Manoc and Balabag.
Martinez added that they will upgrade the capacity of distribution lines and power substations in Boracay to meet the power demand of the island in the next 10 years.
Akelco will also establish a 50-MVA (Mega Volt Amp) power substation in Barangay Yapak to augment the existing substation in the island. (With a report from Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
