Power supply deficiency causes blackout in Western Visayas

ILOILO CITY –– A power supply deficiency hit Western Visayas on Thursday, triggering a blackout affecting six provinces lasting up to 10 hours in some areas.

Employees working from home and students and teachers conducting online classes took to social media and ranted against the blackout that disrupted work and classes.

The power interruption started at 10:13 a.m. after major power plants tripped off, which occurs when there is a break in the circuit due to a mechanical or technical fault. This affected the provinces of Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

Michelle Visera, regional corporate communications and public affairs officer of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, said the transmission company implemented manual load dropping affecting Iloilo Electric Cooperative (Ileco) I, Ileco II, Ileco III, Capiz Electric Cooperative, Antique Electric Cooperative, Aklan Electric Cooperative, and Northern Negros Electric Cooperative.

Power was restored in some areas early in the afternoon, but the brownout lasted until 8 p.m. in other areas, including Iloilo City.

Visera said the cause of the disturbance to the power grid was still being investigated.

In October last year, two blackouts also hit Western Visayas, triggering outrage from residents and business operators.

LZB