‘Blackout’ hits Cagayan Valley, Kalinga, Apayao

By Freddie G. Lazaro

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The Cagayan Valley region affecting the provinces of Cagayan, Kalinga, Apayao and some parts of Isabela experienced 12.5 – hour brownout Thursday.

National Grid Corporation of the Philippines North Luzon Public Affairs Officer Lilibeth P. Gaydowen said the scheduled power interruption was from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

She said that the affected distribution utilities were the Isabela Electric Cooperative I (ISELCO I), Isabela Electric Cooperative II (ISELCO II), Cagayan Electric Cooperative I (CAGELCO I), Cagayan Electric Cooperative II (CAGELCO II) and Kalinga Electric Cooperative (KAELCO).

Gaydowen said the power outage was necessitated by the annual preventive maintenance of power transformer and its associated equipment at Gamu and Santiago Substations and the replacement of selected transmission lines along the Santiago-Gamu 230kV line.

“The affected areas of this scheduled brownout were the entire provinces of Cagayan, Kalinga and Apayao, and the following towns of Isabela province: Benito Soliven, Naguillan, San Mariano, Reina Mercedes, Ilagan, Part of Cauayan, Gamu, Burgos, Aurora, San Manuel, Roxas, Mallig, Quezon, Tumauini, Cabagan, Delfin Albano, San Pablo and Sta. Maria,” she said.

“The electricity powers were immediately restored upon completion of work,” she said.

She  advised all NGCP’s customers and the general public to take the necessary preparations and precautions for the scheduled interruption.