Key officials from the energy sector in Negros Oriental have assured that schools in remote areas that will be used as voting centers in the May 12 polls will have stable and reliable power.
Lawyer Fe Marie Tagle, general manager of the Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative told the media in an interview on Tuesday that a backup plan is in place for unenergized schools where solar power will be used instead.
“There is a Department of Education and National Electrification Administration partnership to energize the last mile schools using photovoltaic modules (solar power),” Tagle said.
She said that eight schools in Noreco II’s coverage area will be provided with solar energy to ensure that the elections are not hampered.
These are Apo Island Elementary School and Apo Island High School in Dauin town; Danao Elementary School, Kanggabok Elementary School and Tubod Elementary School in the remote mountain barangay of Nagbinlod in Sta. Catalina town; Calañan Elementary School in Barangay Bonawon in Siaton town; Bokaw Elementary School in Barangay Manduaw, Bayawan City; and Pilipigan Indigenous People Elementary School in Barangay Pal-ew, Tanjay City.
Tagle and Noreco I general manager Elvin Denoyo briefed members of the Provincial Joint Security Control Center on Monday during the group’s final meeting on contingency plans for the midterm elections.
Denoyo assured all areas in the coverage area of Noreco I will be with provided stable power supply for the final testing and sealing of automated counting machines on May 6 onwards.
The coverage area of Noreco II includes Dumaguete City, Tanjay City, Bayawan City, Pamplona, Sibulan, San Jose, Amlan, Valencia, Bacong, Dauin, Zamboanguita, Siaton, Sta. Catalina and Basay.
Noreco I serves the northern parts of Negros Oriental including Bais City, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Guihulngan City, Vallehermoso and Canlaon City.
Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region director who attended the PJSCC meeting, expressed confidence the conduct of the elections in these schools will proceed without serious problems.
“If we were able to do it in the previous elections, then we can also do it this time,” Castillano stressed.
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, which transmits electricity supply to the cooperatives, earlier assured there would be no more brownouts until at least a week after the May 12 elections as mandated by law, unless there are “extreme emergencies” and unforeseen events, such as natural disasters and other calamities. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
