Power outages cut people’s view of Duterte’s Sona in Cotabato

President Rodrigo Duterte during his fourth State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 22, 2019. SCREENGRAB FROM
RTVMalacañang YouTube

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Residents of Kidapawan City and nearby towns of Makilala and Mlang in Cotabato province were dismayed by the turned of events while watching President Rodrigo Duterte’s 4th State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22.

This after a series of power fluctuations hit the city and its environs past 5 p.m., as the President delivered his Sona before the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Heavy downpour coupled with strong wind sent tree branches hitting transmission lines that tripped and cut the power supply in Kidapawan City.

Some radio stations in Kidapawan City that hooked up with the Presidential Broadcast Staff Radio-Television Malacañang that was broadcasting live the President’s Sona also temporarily went off-air due to power loss.

When the power returned at past 7 p.m., the live television feed of the President’s Sona was no longer available from cable TV providers.

Residents experienced at least four power interruptions during the one hour and a half Sona of the President.

The Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco), in a statement, has said what transpired was beyond its control.

“The bad weather toppled some of our electric posts,” Cotelco said. “Our line people are now working on it amid heavy rain,” it added.

“Cotelco is humbly requesting your kind understanding for the weather is beyond our control,” the electric cooperative said.