Albay: The Albay Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Aleco) has implemented a comprehensive contingency plan to ensure a safe, adequate, and reliable electricity supply before, during, and after the upcoming Monday elections. This initiative is designed to minimize potential issues at polling stations, canvassing centers, and other critical electoral facilities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Aleco information officer Anj Galero outlined the measures being taken, emphasizing that their linemen are conducting continuous inspections to ensure that power supply lines to various voting centers remain in good condition. Teams are actively engaged in load monitoring and clearing any obstructions on power lines. Additionally, thermal scanning and inspection of substations, repair of hotspots, fuse sizing, and load monitoring in polling centers have been carried out as part of the contingency plan.
The plan encompasses substations, transmission lines, and consumer services. Galero stated that all area line personnel, substation engineers, and the member-services division are on standby to address any calls and concerns. The objective is to secure a direct power supply to the facilities that will be utilized during the election.
On Election Day, Aleco will deploy technical teams throughout the province for 24-hour monitoring. In the event of a power outage, the cooperative is prepared to promptly repair damaged power lines and coordinate with relevant government agencies while ensuring the safety of personnel and member consumers. "One technical team per municipality was assigned for immediate response. We also assigned a focal person to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) command center for ease of communications and immediate response. We are committed to ensuring that we can provide the necessary services during the election day," Galero added.
Aleco's technical support will continue until the conclusion of the canvassing of votes and the proclamation of the winning candidates. Meanwhile, Joyce Blancio of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) stated in a message that there are no planned outages or scheduled maintenance activities in Bicol until May 16. Quick response teams will patrol and monitor facilities and lines, with all necessary spare parts, tools, equipment, and emergency restoration systems for election day already prepositioned.
Blancio also mentioned coordination with the regional police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to secure NGCP facilities and transmission lines, ensuring that the electoral process proceeds without disruption.
