The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative is warning the public against fake news circulating on social media stating that the blackout in EB Magalona, Victorias City and a portion of Manapla, which was on its fourth day on Friday, would last until September 10 or until further notice.
“Contrary to rumors on social media, there is no confirmed end date for the power outage. The certification letter that states the power interruption will be up to September 10, 2023 or until further notice is false information,” Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez also said on Friday, September 1.
Ma. Dorothy Evangelista, NONECO OIC general manager, said they are conducting an investigation to establish the source of the fake news that has alarmed the public, she said.
All updates on the restoration of power are posted on NONECO’s official Facebook page, she said.
“Rest assured that NONECO is working 24/7 to restore power to the affected areas at the soonest possible time”, she added.
Benitez said on the evening of August 28, an explosion occurred in the lightning arrester at NONECO’s 15MVA substation in Bacayan, Canetown, Victorias City.
Power was temporarily restored from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. on August 29. However, an internal inspection revealed minor damages to the transformer and since then power has not been restored, he added.
Victorias City has activated generators and is offering free charging stations at the City Hall and the public plaza for its residents, Benitez said.
The city government also distributed generators to the barangays in Victorias to also be used as charging stations for residents.
Benitez pointed out that the Central Negros Electric Cooperative has loaned NONECO its 15MVA transformer stationed at the Negros First CyberCenter in Bacolod City to address the blackout problem.
A team from NONECO and Celcor Builders and Equipment Inc. led by Celso Uy was transporting the transformer to Victorias City on Friday, September 1, he said.
“Commissioning will follow necessary established protocols, such as testing, declassification, and NGCP approval, and is expected to complete within 24 hours of installation at the permanent pad,” Benitez said.
“We extend our gratitude to (Bacolod) Mayor Albee Benitez for facilitating contact with Arnel Lapore, the general manager of CENECO. I personally called and asked for assistance,” Benitez said.
The Victorias City government is “committed to resolving this situation and restoring power to our residents and neighboring municipalities as quickly as possible”, the Victorias mayor said.*