Power outage greets Mindanao Business Conference opening

Delegates of 31st Mindanao Business Conference in Tandag City have to contend with hand fans amid the humid condition inside the North Eastern Mindanao State University. CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN

TANDAG CITY—Power interruptions greeted the opening of the 31st Mindanao Business Conference here on Thursday, causing embarrassment from the host business chamber here.

The sudden power outages were observed at least three times during the plenary discussions, and organizers had to change their connection to standby generators immediately.

Aside from the inconveniences of outages, delegates from the different business groups comprising the local Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) organizations in Mindanao are uncomfortable with the humid condition inside the venue—the Stadium of North Eastern Mindanao State University.

“It would have been nice if there was no power interruption. What happened today should be resolved,” said John Vincent Pimentel, president of the host Tandag Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Pimentel said the local chamber officials have met with the general manager of Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II to ensure that there will be no power interruptions during the four-day event.

“Few days before, there were no power outages. It was don in good faith considering that preparations were done one month in the making,” he said.

Engr. Frederick Portillo, Technical Services Manager of Surseco II, said a cut out tripped and disrupted the line’s connection to the venue which caused the sudden power outages.

He said this technical gap could not be prevented since the trouble on the cut out is unforeseen even as electricity load is sufficient.

The event head organizer, however, was grateful that the provincial government and the school administration came to the rescue to provide the standby generators so as not to disrupt the heat of discussions during the plenary sessions.

He also took the mishaps as a sign of the local host business group’s resiliency to face unexpected adversity.

“When we hold such big events, huge aspirations, there is also a challenge,” said Pimentel, son of second district Rep. Johnny Pimentel.

He admitted that during the preparation, he thought of giving up. “But I think I have a big moral responsibility,” he said.

The local chamber took the challenge to accept the offer of PCCI to host the event after two years of hiatus since their counterpart in Surigao del Norte, which was supposed to host it on Siargao Island, declined saying they are still recovering from the damages wrought by Typhoon Odette.

/MUF