Rotational power

outages ‘til Oct 3?

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Barring any more unfavourable circumstance, the scheduled completion of the maintenance work on Visayas largest baseload power plants by October 3, would ease Bohol’s infamous rotational brown-outs owing to the massive 790 megawatts (MW) of power deficit in the Visayas.

By October 3, Panay Energy Development Corporation’s Unit 3 (PEDC-3) would be back online and 150 MW would be added to the 300 MWs supplied by the Therma Visayas Incorporated’s Unit 1 and 2 (TVI 1 and 2) which has a joint capacity of 138 MW, which would have been restored by September 16.

Since September 6, TVI 1 and 2 and PEDC have been on forced outage due to operational issues, according to a Bohol Light Company Incorporated (BLCI) official.

By then too, the return of the 388 MW of supply to the total of 2,589 megawatts which Visayas needs at peak demand, would lessen the strain businesses are already grimacing with the manual load dropping activities which the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) implemented to power manage the power shortfall in the region.

But, despite that, at 790 MW of insufficient supply and 388 MW restored, the worsening drought still continues to pose a challenge for Visayas geothermal plants: one among its major sources of power.

Bohol Light Company Incorporated (BLCI), through its Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Engr Paulino Almedilla pointed out that prolonged outages of major power plants resulted in a power supply deficiency, that demand curtailment activities have to be implemented.

During a media conference at the Terrace Restaurant and Café, September 8, BLCI said the forced outage of three major power plants: Aboitiz’s Therma Visayas Incorporated Units 1 and 2 in Toledo City (TVI-1 and 2) which supplies a combined power of 138 MW, while Panay Energy Development Corporation Unit 3 (PEDC-3) which supplies 150 MW of power have been unexpectedly taken offline since May 13, due to perceived operational issues.

Apart from these, 19 other smaller units are operating on de-rated capacities, Almedilla added.

He cited the geothermal teamfield limits of Leyte and Tongonal facilities and diesel facilities’ peaking de-rations, while hydro power is down tyo 15 MW output due to the low water inflow.

With the power deficit, NGCP has to direct distribution utilities to implement Manual Load Dropping, and comes out to consumers as rotational brownouts for an hour or two, explains BLCI systems Operations Supervisor Engr Clifford Jay Dela, during the presscon.

As the DUs decide which feeder loads would be dropped, BLCI said the priority for exclusion in the brownouts are hospitals and vital installations.

With the increasing power demand especially with the heat and haze forcing people indoors, BLCI continues to remind people to practice energy conservation measures, especially during peak demand hours.

Before BLCI implements its rotating brown-outs to specific feeders, it sends public advisories in its social media accounts, to inform people to prepare.

Turn the power off, unplug key appliances especially those with motors, air-conditioners, refrigerators and electric fans, as the moment the power comes back, the sudden surge of power may be too much for the house breakers to manage, it can trip off the house power causing possible damage to these appliances, BLCI said. (PIAbohol)

UNTIL POWER PLANTS GO ONLINE. BLCI Chief Operations Officer Engr Paulino Almedilla says the prolonged unavailability of major power plants in the Visayas has forced the NGCP to order Manual; Load Dropping measures for distribution utilities to effectively manage the supply deficiency and prevent anymore large-scale black-outs in the Visayas. (PIABohol)

1200 served in NHA-organized

People’s Caravan in Tubigon

TUBIGON, Bohol (PIA)—In one swoop, National Housing Authority (NHA), in partnership with Local Government Unit of Tubigon opened the Tubigon Cultural Center to an estimated 1,200 residents, some of them from the towns with NHA sites for the People’s Caravan: Serbisyong Dala ay Pag-asa, Thursday.

Thirty government agencies, government controlled corporations and private sector partners set up frontline services booths to render medical, dental, social and legal assistance services to Tubignons as well as Boholanos from as far as Duero, on the opposite side of the island province, and local island residents.

For housing needs and concerns, the NHA along with the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Home Development and Mutual Fund set up booths to facilitate transactions with the people not necessarily going to the city where these offices are generally based.

The Department of Health, Tubigon Municipal Rural Health Unit, Philippine National Police Medical Group and Tubigon Disaster and Risk Reduction Management rendered free medical and dental consultations and tooth extraction as well as first contact points for PhilHealth’s Yakap registration while the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, the DOH and the MHO dispensed free medicines after consultations.

For social services, Social Security System accepted member registrations and updating, the Philippine Statistics Authority brought in their National identification registration and late registration of births, the National Bureau of Investigations rolled out their Mobile Clearance services, the Department of Information Communications and technology opened their egov.ph registration and internet accessibility services while the Department of Agriculture brought their Registry System of Basic Sectors in Agriculture registration assisted by the Municipal Agriculture Office.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines sent in 47th Infantry Battalion barber crew for their Libreng Tupi.

Land Transportation Office opened their drivers licenses application, vehicle registration and other related services, the Department of Social Welfare and Development on Uplift verification, 4Ps registration, while the DA also sold the Benteng Bigas to the marginalized sector, a presidential promise fulfilled.

The Commission on Higher Education handed out tertiary scholarships, while the Department of Labor and Employment, Public Employment Placement Office, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration of the Department of Migrant Workers conducted mini jobs fair with the participation of private sector employers.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, private technical vocational institutions, the Department of Trade and industry came in with their business assistance services.

Free legal services were provided by a team from the Public Attorney’s Office in Tagbilaran and Maribojoc, while the Integrated Bar of the Philippines also sent in a delegation of private lawyers. (PIAbohol)

ONE STOP SERVICE BAY. Tubigon Cultural Center transformed into one big free government frontline services bay Thursday as the National Housing Authority, Tubigon and the provincial Government of Bohol opened the People’s Caravan: a one stop service caravan which brought key government frontline services, like this free dental services, to the community. (PIAbohol)