Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has vowed to keep track of Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s (Nordeco) promise to end the power crisis gripping the Island Garden of Samal City residents by the end of May.
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go (Photo from O/S Bong Go)
Go made the assurance in an interview in Maco, Davao de Oro even as he urged officials of Nordeco to keep their word and fast track the installation of additional generator sets in the area.
“I understand the problems hounding Nordeco, that’s why I urge you to hurry up, because sometimes the people cannot understand the technical issues,” Go said in Filipino during the interview.
The electricity woes hounding Samal Island was also tackled by Sen. Rafael “Raffy” Tulfo during the Senate Committee on Energy hearing last Wednesday, May 24.
Marilou Impuesto, Manager of Nordeco’s Institutional Service Department, said the company is targeting to fix the problems and provide stable power supply on Samal “within this month” of May.
According to the National Electrification Administration (NEA), Samal island has a power demand of 9 megawatts but the current available power in the area is only at 6.1 megawatts (MW) after three generator sets malfunctioned.
Two of these generator sets are under Nordeco. According to the company, Nordeco has securred additional 2MW generator sets which will arrive by Friday.
Go said he hopes the plans and the timeline will push through to ensure that electricity in Samal island would be fully operational.
“If this doesn’t get resolve, we will have an economic crisis in the area or in the island itself,” the senator said of the famous local tourist spot.
“It’s very difficult to have brownouts, because tourism is affected. The residents there are affected as well…When there is no electricity, everyone is affected,”
“The water source is affected, even the people’s mobility; transportation and communication lines are also affected. Tourism is affected, and many people will lose jobs and livelihood if there is a power crisis,” the senator stressed.