Mayor Crisostomo Garbo has intensified efforts to address the frequent unscheduled power interruptions in the city by demanding explanations and solutions from Pampanga II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PELCO II) during a crucial meeting at the city hall.
Mayor Garbo instructed his key officials from the local government unit (LGU) to make a follow-up action and meet with top representatives from PELCO II.
In a high-level meeting at the city hall, key offices from the LGU attended, including City Admin headed by Franco Alejo Madlangbayan, CPDO headed by Rosan Paquia, City Engr Office headed by Engr. Rod De Leon, CIO headed by Jay Pelayo IV, and Mar Pangilinan, the MCG Consultant on Utilities.
Representing PELCO II were Head of Technical Services Engr. Enrique Y. Gamboa, Head of Systems Operations Engr. Marvin Sanidad, Head of Systems Design Engr. Marvin Delfin, Maintenance Supervisor Engr. Delbren Maniago, and Area Head for Mabalacat City Edward P. Timog.
During the meeting, PELCO II outlined a series of actions to be taken in collaboration with the LGU to address the immediate, short-term, and long-term challenges affecting the city’s power supply.
For the immediate term, PELCO II plans to implement load transfer and load balancing among the three transformers to optimize power distribution and mitigate the impact of the unscheduled power interruptions. Additionally, with the LGU’s assistance, PELCO II will reach out to major energy users in the city to encourage participation in the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) established by the Department of Energy (DOE).
In the short to medium term, PELCO II aims to expedite the completion of the Sta. Maria Power Sub-station by the first quarter of 2025, increasing its capacity to 25 MVA. This strategic move is expected to enhance the overall power infrastructure and improve the reliability of the city’s power supply.
Looking towards the long term, PELCO II has committed to establishing another power sub-station at Dau, enhancing the capacity of the existing Mabiga sub-station, and facilitating the construction and completion of the city’s waste-to-energy project. These initiatives are designed to bolster the city’s power grid, ensure sustainability, and meet the growing energy demands of Mabalacat City.
The joint action plan between the LGU and PELCO II aims to address the challenges faced by residents and businesses in Mabalacat City, on frequent power outages.
Mayor Cris Garbo expressed optimism regarding the collaborative efforts and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation to achieve lasting solutions for the benefit of the Mabalaqueños.
Earlier in the meeting, PELCO II officials cited the recent impact of the El Niño phenomenon on the country’s temperature and heat index, which has led to above-normal levels of heat since March. This surge in temperature has consequently spurred a heightened demand for power, leading to the shutdown of power-generating plants and the subsequent unscheduled power interruptions experienced by residents in Mabalacat City.
