Malacon welcomes substation plan, says blackout ‘lesson learned’

E.B. Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon welcomed the proposal to put up a substation of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) in his locality.

Malacon pointed out that the recent massive power blackout should serve as a lesson for Noneco.

He thanked Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez of neighboring Victorias City and president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives (ACE) for the suggestion.

"It's long overdue," the mayor said, adding that long before he entered politics in E.B. Magalona, his father, a local businessman, actually offered a property to Noneco at a cheaper price.

"I don't know why it did not materialize," he said.

Malacon said that the recent widespread blackout "should serve as a lesson to Noneco for them to prepare for any eventuality because everyone of us is dependent on power."

"They should have precautionary measures to ensure that it does not happen again," the mayor pointed out.

The recent widespread blackout affected 50,000 member-consumers of Noneco and their families in EB Magalona, Victorias City, and Manapla.

Power was restored Sunday evening, September 3, after the 15 MVA transformer Noneco borrowed from the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) was successfully installed and tested.

Malacon said the widespread blackout also affected the water supply and communications.

The blackout was triggered by the explosion of the lightning arrester at the 15-MVA substation of the Noneco in Bacayan, Canetown, Victorias City last week.

On Monday, Sept. 4, Benitez urged Noneco to upgrade their facilities and equipment.*