How 3 AFP offices are coping with power outage

MANILA, Philippines -Three offices at the military’s main headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, including one of its busiest workplaces, have been languishing without power for more than a month now after a lightning struck the camp’s power transformers last May 4.

The electricity-deprived offices, located at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Grandstand, include the Public Affairs Office, Women’s Auxiliary Corps and the Defense Press Corps.

It also houses the Del Pilar Lounge, a holding area for VIPs during events, and the audio-visual and personnel barracks.

The power outage has forced the Public Affairs Office (PAO), which serves the general public on a 24-hour basis, to rely on a power generator and to dig deeper into its pockets.

The generator consumes 80-liters of diesel a day that costs PAO P3,000 daily.

Meanwhile, reporters covering the defense beat were relocated from its press office to the Department of National Defense’s Office of Public Affairs.

On Sunday during the Pacquiao-Bradley bout in Las Vegas, the military held a free live viewing at the AFP Gym instead of having the showing of the boxing event at the grandstand.

The military is a staunch supporter of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, an Army reservist.

Spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said they are exhausting efforts to put the power back at the camp as soon as possible.

“Within the week, power might be finally restored,” he said.