LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Power in the island town of Rapu-Rapu in Albay province has been temporarily restored at around 12 noon on Tuesday, May 18, the Albay Power and Energy Corporation (APEC) said.
Lesly Capus, head of APEC Customer Relations Department said that a 48 hours power supply consideration is given to Rapu-Rapu while energy stakeholders iron-out the solution.
“The Albay Power and Energy Corporation (APEC) fully respects the request of the Department of Energy (DOE) asking the NEA, NPC and APEC to immediately restore power to the Municipality of Rapu-Rapu, Albay, in a Memorandum dated May 17, 2021, and duly signed by Undersecretary Emmanuel P. Juaneza.
"In response, please be informed that APEC is amenable to cause the temporary restoration of power in Rapu-Rapu at 12:00 o’clock noon today May 18, 2021, for a period of forty-eight (48) hours only, while a resolution is being worked out with the Department of Energy (DOE) for the means to settle the consumer’s arrearages in the amount of more than P 32,000,000.00 as of today,” Capus said.
Capuz explained that once there is no consensus for payment arrangement is reached and signed within 48 hours, power supply will again be cut-off.
“In the event that there is no consensus for a payment arrangement is reached and signed at the end of said 48 hours, APEC will be constrained to request NPC to cut-off the power in the Municipality of Rapu-Rapu,” he said.
Last May 15, APEC cut down the power supply in the entire town after delinquent customers failed to pay P15 million of the total P32 million arrearages.
The entire town went powerless since Saturday noon, prompting Mayor Boy Galicia to lend a generator set to light up street lights at the town proper.
According to Galicia, private businesses such as groceries also have generators set for their operations while residents return to the old way of living by using “gasera” or gas lamps during the night.
He also noted that Rapu-Rapu District Hospital is using a generator set for their daily operations.
Meanwhile, APEC appealed to delinquent consumers to cooperate and take advantage of the consideration to pay their electric bills to avoid disconnection.