Trade office yet to feel impact of brownouts

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao regional office said Monday it has yet to feel the impact of the power outages experienced in Mindanao on the business sector.

In an interview with Sun.Star Davao, DTI-Davao Region chief Marizon Loreto said the effect of the power crisis will be felt in the next couple of months yet.

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"The effects are not felt yet but if this continues, businesses and industries will be adversely affected in the long run," Loreto said.

The trade department chief added that there is a growing concern among the business sector with regard to the power crisis.

In a consultation meeting with chief executives of top companies in Davao del Sur last week, the power crisis took center stage as the main concern of business groups.

Although the power outages in Davao City only last from 30 minutes to an hour, areas outside Davao Region experience power outages that last more than eight hours.

"At the end of the day, it will be the general population that will be most affected by the power outages that we experience," Loreto said.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines expects the power outages to lengthen and to occur more often following the breach of critical water levels at Lake Lanao Sunday morning. (CPM)