ILECO I is 90 pct ready for May 9 elections

A month before the national and local polls, the Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO I) said preparations to prevent power interruptions on May 9 are 90 percent complete.

“On our part as a distribution utility, I could say nga as of now we are 90 percent ready. Ang 10 percent remaining is detailed nga kinanglanon pa namon nga i-preparar,” engineer GC June Garanchon of ILECO I said in an interview on IMT Conversations.

According to him, they have been conducting a thorough check on their power lines, distribution transformers, and other facilities.

Their personnel, especially line crew, will be on general alert to immediately address power problems and concerns, he said.

Garanchon noted that ILECO I has a 24/7 standby maintenance team in every town covered by their services.

“We have formed an augmentation team in case ang trouble magdaku and we need more manpower during the election period,” he said.

Garanchon also guaranteed that ILECO 1 has sufficient contracted power supply to meet the higher demand next month.

The Department of Energy (ILECO I) earlier requested electric cooperatives to ensure an uninterrupted power supply before, during and even after the elections.

Meanwhile, Garanchon stressed interruptions caused by generation deficiencies, or those pertaining to transmission, are beyond the control of ILECO I.

The country’s power transmission system that links power plants to the electric distribution utilities nationwide is operated and managed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

“I hope lang this coming elections, a week before and after sang election, mangin online ang tanan nga ini nga mga planta to make sure indi magkapproblema si ILECO in terms of power supply kay ti dependent man lang kami sa generation supply,” said Garanchon.