By Rocaya Sumndad Otical Yahya
MARAWI CITY: Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO) has welcomed the assurance by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) for a stable power allocation in the province of Lanao del Sur in the midst of the Extended Enhanced Community Quarantine (EECQ).
LASURECO General Manager Nordjiannah Dipatuan-Ducol said the local electric cooperative management appreciates the move of the state power firm in assuring for a stable power supply not only in the province but also in Maguindanao.
In a statement, PSALM has assured electric cooperatives in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, two provinces of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), of a stable power allocation to help hospitals of continuous supply of electricity.
The state firm said the move was also intended to maintain the stability of electricity in southern Mindanao during the enhanced community quarantine imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“This move is pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 entitled Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated 28 March 2020 that mandate government agencies to implement emergency measures in support of the ECQ,” PSALM said.
Supply for LASURECO was raised to 42 megawatts from 16.8 MW and for Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (MAGELCO) to 17.88 MW from 10 MW, it said.
PSALM has 54 power customers in Mindanao composed of electric cooperatives, industrial entities, private and government corporations including LASURECO which serves 63,003 customers and MAGELCO which has 44,156 connections in its service area.
“Overall, the two electric cooperatives will net a 59.88 megawatts capacity for the month of April 2020 as a temporary emergency measure, especially to make sure that the hospitals and frontline services in their area will not experience any power outages,” PSALM said. – ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL YAHYA
