Davao Light assures stable power during election day

DAVAO CITY, April 3 (PIA) The power utility firm Davao Light and Power Company assured that the supply of electricity in Davao City and other service areas like Panabo City and Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte will remain stable even beyond the election period, despite the power curtailment being observed in other areas in Mindanao due to power shortage.

Speaking at the Club 888 business forum at the Marco Polo Hotel, Ross Luga,  Assistant Vice-President  of the Davao Light said they expect a low demand of electricity during the Election Day since it will be a holiday.

He said many offices and big industrial companies are usually closed on holidays so the demand for power on May 13 will reduce and will be enough to support the power needed in the conduct of the elections.

Luga said that even with the rotating brownouts imposed in other areas in Mindanao, Davao Light will ensure that its service areas will have continued supply of electricity.

He revealed the power sources of the Davao Light such as the run-off river power source of the Hedcor Power Corporation in Barangay Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur which provides 45.2 megawatts, Therma-Marine Incorporated power barge in Maco, Compostela Valley that gives 30 megawatts, and the standby diesel-powered plant in Bajada which can provide an average of 40 megawatts.

Luga said they also have collaboration with large industrial companies under the interruptible load program.

“Should there be a time that we lack power, we will request the large industrial companies to operate their power generators.  Instead of drawing power from the transmission lines, the power that they could have used can be distributed to the smaller customers,” he said.

Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado, regional director of the Commission on Elections XI said power outage is not much of a problem since the battery of a Precinct Count Optical Scan machine can last for 16 hours on Election Day.

He said the poll body has also issued a resolution requesting power providers to ensure the supply of electricity on Election Day.

“The Comelec issued a resolution to that effect requesting agencies concerned to provide stable supply of electricity during elections.  But if a power outage occurs even for one hour, there is no problem because a PCOS machine can run for 16 hours,” Balisado said.  (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)