Iloilo power firm: Progress is main goal

ILOILO CITY—This city’s lone power distributor has appealed to Ilonggos to bear with rotating brownouts until late this year in the wake of massive infrastructure projects in the city.

Panay Electric Company (Peco) said in a statement that brownouts would last until the completion of road-widening and drainage-improvement projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and real estate development projects.

Peco last week started transferring 198 primary and secondary electric poles which would continue until Oct. 7.

The transfer of poles requires cutting off of power in areas where the public work projects are being implemented.

“Peco projects in support of government infrastructure projects and big real estate developments are paving the way for the boom in Iloilo City,” Peco said.

“The company is trying its best to minimize power interruptions involved in pole transfers and the installation of new lines and equipment,” it added.

Peco said brownouts also happened due to increased demand during the summer months.

Peco said it is also currently finishing maintenance and upgrading projects to improve the reliability of the city’s supply of power.

These projects include the installation of elevated metering systems and improving lines “to reduce the effect of pilferage that causes overloading of feeders and transformers.”

“It is the company’s hope that the inconvenience suffered today will pave the way for the goal of all: that Iloilo City be a premiere city in the very near future,” Peco said.