PALECO 3-month rehab starts
The three-month rehabilitation for Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) has officially commenced, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, NEA said the first batch of Task Force Kapatid composed of different energy cooperatives and which would look into the rehabilitation of PALECO, has started with the rehabilitation on 18 August.
The first batch is composed of technical teams from the Batangas I Electric Cooperative Inc. (BATELEC I), Batangas II Electric Cooperative Inc. (BATELEC II), First Laguna Electric Cooperative Inc. (FLECO) and the Philippine Federation of Electric Cooperatives (PHILFECO).
The team from PHILFECO consists of Pangasinan I Electric Cooperative (PANELCO I), Pangasinan III Electric Cooperative (PANELCO III) and Isabela II Electric Cooperative (ISELCO II).
Meanwhile, the second batch, composed of ECs from Western Visayas, will follow next month.
The rehabilitation works will include clearing activities, reconductoring, repair of distribution lines, proper coordination of protection devices, as well as relocation of poles affected by road widening projects.
NEA Deputy Administrator for Technical Services Artis Nikki Tortola said that once the three-month rehabilitation is complete, power interruptions in Palawan which started since 2017 is expected to be reduced.
Tortola noted that power issues plaguing the said province was due to a number of factors such as vegetation and lack of acceptable dispatch protocol in the generation, transmission and distribution systems.
“This is not the problem of PALECO alone. This the province’s issue and PALECO needs help,” he said.
PALECO is the sole power distributor of Puerto Princesa City and the Municipalities of Aborlan, Narra, Brooke's Point, Sofronio Espanola, Cuyo, Magsaysay, Quezon, Roxas, Taytay, El Nido, Araceli, San Vicente, Bataraza, Rizal, Balabac, Cagayancillo, Agutaya and Dumaran.
Tortola noted that power issues plaguing the said province was due to a number of factors such as vegetation and lack of acceptable dispatch protocol in the generation, transmission and distribution systems.