9,000 ASELCO consumers welcome 2015 without power
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Jan. 1 (PIA) –
Tropical Storm Seniang, known internationally as Jangmi did not only batter
lives and properties but also knocked down transmission lines owned by the
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) particularly in its
Butuan-Bayugan City 69 KV Transmission Lines.
This transmission line is the connection point of the distribution
system of the Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ASELCO) that serves
almost 9,000 consumers in the municipalities of Esperanza, Sibagat, and City of
Bayugan alone.
On the aftermath of Seniang, ASELCO’s services had
also been disrupted due to toppled structures caused by floods, landslides, and
strong winds in many parts of the province of Agusan del Sur where a signal
number 2 storm warning was announced.
Despite the damages in the aforementioned areas,
ASELCO Bayugan Area Office had accomplished its line rehabilitation before
December 31, 2014. However, it could not switch-on its 10 MVA power substation
transformer in Bayugan City due to the on-going repair of the damaged
transmission structures by the NGCP.
“As the new year approaches, the cooperative
enjoined all its technical personnel and doubled its efforts in the power
restoration and line rehabilitation process,” said Leah Fe F. Estillore, ASELCO
officer in-charge via phone interview.
Nelson S. Cejas, Area Manager of Bayugan Area
Office expressed that the area office maximizes all human resources to expedite
the line rehabilitation process. According to him, all backbone lines (power
lines in all town centers) have all been repaired and prepared for switch-on in
times of the New Year celebration.
Due to the extent of damages, repairs of the
Butuan-Bayugan 138 KV transmission lines might be completed by January 3, 2015,
according to Engr. Arlene L. Cabanban of NGCP.
The Board and Management of ASELCO would like to
express its sincerest apology to all affected consumers for the inconvenience
caused by the power outage due to Force Majeure beyond its control.
“Under normal condition, our cooperative will
continue to do its best to ensure all consuming public of a reliable power
supply even up to the farthest sitio or purok,” ASELCO President Corazon D.
Cullantes says. (ASELCO Publication Team/PIA-Caraga)
