Benguet: Nearly all 13 towns of Benguet province will experience a power interruption on Thursday due to maintenance activities set by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). 'The maintenance activity aims to ensure reliability and efficiency of the power grid," Melma Batario, NGCP Regional Communications and Public Affairs Officer in North Luzon, said in an advisory on Wednesday. She added that the activities to be undertaken aim to prevent equipment failure and avoid unplanned or emergency power interruptions.

According to Philippines News Agency, the advisory from power distribution utility Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) indicates that the power interruption set from 7 a.m. to 12 noon will cover the entire towns of Atok, Bokod, Buguias, Kabayan, Kapangan, capital town La Trinidad, Tublay, Mankayan, and Sablan. However, only specific areas will retain power supply, including Kayapa in Bakun town; Tuding, Ucab, Gumatdang, parts of Poblacion (Maligaya), parts of Loacan, and parts of Tinongdan in Itogon town; Tacadang and Lamew in Kibungan town; and Parts of Camp 4, Camp 3, Twin Peaks, Tabaan Sur, Camp 1 in Tuba town.

Coinciding with the power interruption set by the NGCP, Beneco will also perform works to facilitate energization and normalization of their feeders. They announced a separate power interruption from 12 noon to 5 p.m. in parts of Ambiong LT and parts of Balili in La Trinidad town. Based on Beneco's projections, at least 159,733 consumers will be affected by the power interruption.

Laarni Ilagan, Community Relations Associate of Beneco, stated that the cooperative continues to perform maintenance activities of the power and distribution lines as well as infrastructures to ensure reliability of supply. She noted that they conduct maintenance works simultaneously with the power interruptions set by the NGCP to limit the inconvenience to consumers.