By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
“UNHAPPY but satisfied.” So said Roel Castro, president of Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) right after they successfully trouble shoot the power crisis in Bacolod City on August 27, or exactly after six days of the mess.
Such a line was full of meaning prone to different interpretations.
“Unhappy” in the sense that the conking of 30 Mega Volt Amperes (MVA) transformer at the Alijis substation of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) was never expected. It was really likened to a thief in the night.
It was a 13-year-old transformer nearing dilapidation. But its conking was never presumed to happen on August 21. The six-day power crisis was really beyond control the control of anybody. But as a consequence, social media went abuzz with netizens lambasting and cursing both Ceneco and Negros Power left and right.
This was lamentable, considering the Enrique Razon-led Negros Power is yet to fully step on the distribution services of Ceneco.
Negros Power, an offspring of the 25-yeat joint venture agreement with Ceneco and Primelectric Holdings, Inc., is still waiting for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
The brouhaha started night of August 21, causing a total blackout that rapidly enveloped the Bacolod south, specifically in seven barangays of Handumanan, Tangub, Alijis, Singcang-Airport, Pahanocoy, Sum-ag and Taculing, with nearly 50,000 households plunged to darkness. Then, it was followed by rotating brownouts that continued to pester power consumers, and then of water lack that further irritated the affected residents.
Negros Power borrowed a 10MVA mobile transformer from its sister company, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) in Iloilo City.
With no more buts and ifs, the transformer arrived in Bacolod on August 24, and on the 27th, the problem’s over.
‘CONFIDENCE TEST’
Sir Roel, hence, was satisfied with the responses made by his team.
They cured the unwelcome crisis that became a “confidence test” for their landing in central Negros.
Negros Power’s quick response team spelled a unique brand of public service with “brains and hearts” that was hailed by Bacoleños and Negrenses.
Imagine that, at first, Engr. Bailey del Castillo, operations chief of Negros Power, had said the blackout may last for two weeks until a new transformer would be bought and installed as replacement for the busted one.
Two weeks of brownouts (total or rotating) seemed “very unforgivable” for Bacoleños and Negrenses. That was why Sir Roel and his team made a bold move of snatching MORE Power’s transformer.
Thus everybody’s happy!
NOT ORDINARY
But in the midst of power and water crisis, there were some progressive groups nixing Negros Power for allegedly being “atat-na-atat” to invade power distribution business.
Then, there was this question: Kasarang sila?
Well, to be factual, Negros Power was Ceneco’s “savior” during those “darkest days” caused by a “devil transformer” in Alijis.
If not for Negros Power, maybe the Bacolod south (as of this posting) still remains in darkness with water problem.
Thanks to Negros Power…to Sir Roel….for having the ingenuity of looking for the most viable strategy to solve the Bacolod power crisis as soon as possible.
In terms of capability, Negros Power is no ordinary company. Since it belongs to the Razon business conglomerate, it has a capability (financial and technical).
The best description is, Negros Power is “mighty”, it is roaring for “greatness” that will surely amaze Bacoleños and Negrenses soonest.
So, just sit down, relax and wait for Negros Power’s full ratsada./PN
