THE primary electricity distributor in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) will no longer implement a rotational brownout or load curtailment, according to the notice issued by the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Nordeco) through their official Facebook page.
This is in response to the power crisis experienced in Igacos. For the past months, the island has been experiencing a power crisis, resulting in the city government declaring a "state of calamity."
According to Nordeco, from June 5, 2023, they no longer implement rotational brownout or load curtailment, something that the residents of Igacos would rejoice in, especially those who own businesses on the island.
"To our valued Member-Consumer-Owners: Please be informed that the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Nordeco) is no longer implementing rotational brownout/load curtailment in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) since 05 June 2023," Nordeco said.
It added that all its modular generator sets and those of Mindoro Grid Corporation and Igacos Light and Power Company (ILPC) are currently operational.
"These modular generator sets are enough to supply power distributed by Nordeco to Igacos," the power cooperative said.
The company also clarified that the series of power interruptions in four barangays in Kaputian District were only isolated cases due to the severed lines brought about by the strong rain and wind.
"Nevertheless, Nordeco intensified its implementation of Republic Act 11361, or the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act, to minimize, if not avoid, unscheduled power interruptions due to uncleared lines," Nordeco said.
Meanwhile, Nordeco said they are coordinating with the Igacos government to find more standby/reserve power supply to meet the increasing load of the island, with the commitment to ensure a long-term strategy to provide a stable and sustainable electricity supply in the city.
This is also in response to Nordeco's commitment during the Senate committee hearing, in which Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go assured the people of the province of Davao del Norte that it will follow up Nordeco's promise.
Go is the Senate vice chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee and a member of the committee on energy in the Senate.
"Tinanong ko sila, so sinabi nila, yung problema sa Samal Island, ingon nila by June naa na sila'y solusyon," the Dabawenyo senator said during an event at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City on June 13.
Local consumer group Davao Consumer Movement (DCM) has called out Nordeco for failing to meet their “self-imposed deadline” to fix the power crisis in Igacos by the end of May. JPC