Quake rattles power, telcom lines

Power in all areas within the franchise of the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) went out for 30 minutes after the earthquake tripped off most of their feeders at past 8 a.m. yesterday.

“Thirty minutes after the earthquake, Veco started loading its substations. All feeders were energized at 1 p.m. except parts of Consolacion going to Liloan towns due to a broken primary line,” Veco corporate communications manager Theresa Gonzales-Sederiosa said.

At the Mactan Cebu International Airport, 5,000 passengers were stranded for three hours as they and airport employees within the terminal were evacuated when debris fell from the ceiling.

Airport operations resumed late in the morning after runways and buildings were checked for damage. The terminal building was cleared and opened at 1:00 p.m.

Sederiosa said the highest demand recorded yesterday was only 193 MW, lower than the average 240 MW due to the closure of malls.

Globe Telecom said its network in the Visayas region did not sustain any significant damage from the 7.2 magnitude earthquake based on the initial assessment made by its local network personnel.

“Our network continues to be operational to provide critical telecommunication services for rescue and relief operations affected by the earthquake,” said Robert Tan, Globe Chief Technical Adviser.

Damage assessment

Initial reports showed key Globe facilities in Lahug, Talisay, Abacus, San Remegio, Dauin, Cadiz, Iloilo, Roxas, Ormoc and Tacloban are fully operational.

Still, power outage in earthquake-damaged areas like Tagbilaran City in Bohol may adversely affect operations in some of the company’s base stations, Tan said. He said damage assessment is being done in all sites.

In a statement sent to Cebu Daily News, Smart’s mobile phone service in Bohol and Cebu said they remain largely operational despite the damage inflicted on some cell sites and network facilities.

But operations of Sun Cellular in two provinces were affected by damage to transmission facilities.

Commercial power in Bohol remains out of service. Power in Cebu has also been affected. Generator sets were deployed to power key cell sites and keep mobile phone and internet services running.

“We are also setting up free call services and free mobile phone charging stations in affected towns and municipalities to assist residents as well as emergency agencies involved in rescue and relief operations,” Smart said.

At the airport Senior Supt. Constantino Barot, chief of the 7th Police Center for Avaition Security (PCAS), said he and his personnel ran out of their office as their ceiling boards fell. The MCIAA’s engineering team immediately checked airport equipment, the runway and other structures.

More than 200 passengers of the Cathay Pacific Airways that arrived from Hong Kong were accommodated temporarily at the MIP lounge while authorities cleared the terminal building of debris.

Conie Cimafranca, Cathay Pacific Airways sales marketing and communications officer, said all 215 passengers for Hong Kong departed at past 2 p.m.

Gery Cabucos, a senior technician at the airport, said no structural defects were found in the terminal building. With Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza