Albay: The Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco) has announced a planned 48-hour power interruption affecting residents across Albay, aimed at facilitating emergency repairs on damaged equipment.
According to Philippines News Agency, the outage is scheduled to commence at 6 a.m. on Thursday and will last until 6 a.m. on Saturday. Anj Galero, Aleco's public information officer, stated that areas under Bitano Feeders 1 and 2 will experience outages from March 20 to 21, while Feeders 3 and 4 will be affected from March 21 to 22.
In Legazpi City, 46 of the 70 barangays will be impacted. The affected areas from March 20 to 21 include Barangay 17 - Rizal Street Ilawod, Barangay 18 - Cabag±an West Poblaci³n, Barangay 23 - Imperial Court Subd. Poblaci³n, and several others. From March 21 to 22, the power interruption will affect Barangay 37 - Bitano Poblacion, Barangay 18 - Cabag±an West Poblacion, and multiple other barangays.
In addition, Daraga town's Barangays Ba±adero, Matnog, and part of P1 Tagas will also experience power outages. Galero emphasized the urgency of the repairs, noting that unresolved issues could lead to further damage and more extensive power interruptions.
Galero acknowledged that this is one of the longest power interruptions for Aleco, stressing the importance of advance notice for consumers. She apologized for the inconvenience and assured that technical personnel will work diligently to complete the repairs swiftly.
Illegal electricity consumption remains a challenge, Galero added, with Aleco led by Acting General Manager Engineer Wilfredo Bucsit committed to reducing unauthorized power usage. Legal action has already been taken against some violators.
Aleco urged public understanding and encouraged consumers to report concerns during the scheduled power interruption through various communication channels. The cooperative is coordinating with the city government of Legazpi and the Department of Education (DepEd) for the upcoming Palarong Bicol from March 22 to 29.
Galero mentioned that meetings have been held with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRMO) in preparation for the event, with delegates expected to arrive on March 20. Aleco has inspected designated areas to ensure equipment and power lines are in good condition, aiming to minimize disruptions during the Palarong Bicol. Troubleshooting teams are on standby to address any unforeseen power interruptions immediately.
