Power supply cut off in one of Palawan’s major tourist destinations
Palawan map
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The electric supply in one of Palawan’s major tourist destinations was cut off after the power distributor failed to secure an authority to operate and a subsidy contract from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
The Power Source Philippines Inc. (PSPI), which provides electricity in the tourist village of Port Barton in northern Palawan town of San Vicente, shut its operation starting midnight on April 7 after failing to acquire provisional authority/final authority and qualified third-party service and subsidy contract (QTP-QSSC) from the ERC.
The Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco), the major power player in the Palawan province, is expected to help in providing electric service in the village.
“Ang pagtigil ng operasyon ng PSPI sa Bgy. Port Barton, munisipyo ng San Vicente ay sa kadahilanang hindi pa ito nakakakuha ng Provisional Authority/Final Authority mula sa Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) hinggil sa aplikasyon nito para sa Authority to Operate (ATO) and QTP Service and Subsidy Contract (QSSC),” read Paleco’s statement issued on Monday.
PSPI started its operation in the tourist village of Port Barton in 2018, after it was first granted a waiver of agreement with Paleco.
In 2005, Paleco had granted “franchise privilege” to other power supply companies in some of “waived areas” in Palawan.
Paleco also said it is still working on other ways to help resume the electric supply in the village.
“Hindi maaaring sisihin ang PALECO sa naging desisyon ng PSPI na pagtigil ng operasyon sa Brgy. Port Barton at ang pagkalugi nito dahil sa kawalan ng subsidiya,” it said.
It added:” Samantala, lubos na nauunawan ng PALECO na mahirap ang sitwasyon ng PSPI ngunit hindi rin nais ng PALECO na maapektuhan ang mga mamamayan sa Brgy. Port Barton dahil sa muli na naming nawalan ng suplay ng kuryente ang kanilang lugar lalo na’t tinuturing din itong isang tourist destination sa Probinsiya ng Palawan.”
Business establishments in Port Barton are now relying on solar panels to maintain the holiday bookings they had for the tourists in the upcoming Holy Week. INQ
RELATED STORY
Passion fuels forest protection in Palawan
