• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
To avoid repetition of widespread blackout on its franchise area, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez yesterday suggested the management of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) to upgrade and digitize its facilities.
On Sunday night, NONECO restored power in EB Magalona, Victorias City and Manapla, whose more than 50,000 member consumers were affected by power outages since August 28, after its 15MVA substation in Victorias City malfunctioned, apparently due to a lightning strike.
As facilitated by Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and his son, Javi, the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) lent a 15MVA transformer to NONECO to use, pending the repair of its Bacayan substation transformer.
Mayor Javi said that same thing happened in Victorias in 2010, where a blackout lasted for a week.
“This should not happen again,” he stressed.
While there are still areas that have not been energized, Mayor Javi said electricity in majority of the areas in Victorias City and the neighboring towns of EB Magalona and Manapla have already been restored.
He admitted that the blackout has “greatly affected local businesses,” noting that only a few restaurants have emergency generators.
“Since they cannot sell their goods, they do not have income. It’s bad,” Benitez said.
He also acknowledged the efforts of NONECO, CENECO, and their management, especially the line men, for their efforts in power restoration.*
