Garcia to help solve Cebu portion: NPC budget cut to result in blackouts

CEBU, Philippines - A cut in this year’s budget of the National Power Corporation has affected the agency’s fuel allocation which will inevitably result to possible power blackouts nationwide.

The NPC’s budget this year was slashed from P18.296 billion to P7.575 billion. NPC President Froilan Tampinco wrote a letter to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to ask help from the province to avert the possible blackouts.

Tampinco said because of the budget cut their budgetary requirement for fuel of P7.687 billion has been trimmed down to P3.333 billion.

According to Tampinco, the amount is not enough. In fact, their fuel supply would only last until May. He said that this can be extended for another month if they start now adopting a four- hour blackout everyday.

 Tampinco explained that the budget cut will greatly affect the small islands that the NPC is serving such as Camotes and Bantayan Islands in Cebu.

Garcia said the province will try to solve the problem in Cebu.

“That’s national but we will only try to solve the Cebu portion,” Garcia said.

Garcia learned that a five-hour blackout is already affecting Camotes Island.

Garcia said she will be meeting with NPC, Energy Power Corporation and Department of Energy as soon as possible to address the request of Tampinco.

“The important thing is we be able to sit down and discuss point by point and be able to assess how each party can help one another,” Garcia said.

Tampinco has requested the governor to explore remedial and all mitigating measures within the powers of the local government unit to prevent eminent power crisis in off grid areas (small islands).

“Tan-awon nato og unsaon ni nato pag put together on how each can contribute to avert this impending power crisis,” Garcia added.(FREEMAN NEWS)