By Rachelle M. Nessia
CEBU CITY, Feb 14 (PIA) -- The
Department of Energy (DOE) said the Visayas region will have stable power
supply during the second automated elections in the country.
DOE Visayas Regional Director Antonio Labios said the current power reserve in Visayas is between 300 MW to 400 MW.
"Mapun-an pa ni siya during elections kay dili kaayo dako ang demand sa electricity basta holiday (This will be augmented during elections because the demand for electricity during holidays is not that high)," said Labios during a Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency in Cebu.
Labios is also confident that the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines used in casting the votes and transmitting the results do not require much power.
A directive was earlier issued to power generators and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to refrain from conducting preventive maintenance work a week before, and a week after the Election Day.
"The reason for this is one week before the elections there are preparations that need to be done, and a week after to give enough time to ensure that the counting of ballots will be completely finished," he said.
Preventive maintenance work can be undertaken after said period.
Labios said they have proven during the 2010 election, which was the first automated polls in the country, that one week after Election Day is enough time for the completion of the counting of ballots.
Comelec, in its Resolution No. 9598 issued January 21 this year, deputized DOE and electric cooperatives to provide uninterrupted power supply on the day before, on Election Day, and until the conclusion of the canvassing of election returns and proclamation of elected officials.
In return, DOE created Task Force Election 2013 to implement mitigating measures to address situations that may adversely affect the power supply during the polls. (RMN/PIA-7 CEBU)
DOE Visayas Regional Director Antonio Labios said the current power reserve in Visayas is between 300 MW to 400 MW.
"Mapun-an pa ni siya during elections kay dili kaayo dako ang demand sa electricity basta holiday (This will be augmented during elections because the demand for electricity during holidays is not that high)," said Labios during a Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency in Cebu.
Labios is also confident that the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines used in casting the votes and transmitting the results do not require much power.
A directive was earlier issued to power generators and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to refrain from conducting preventive maintenance work a week before, and a week after the Election Day.
"The reason for this is one week before the elections there are preparations that need to be done, and a week after to give enough time to ensure that the counting of ballots will be completely finished," he said.
Preventive maintenance work can be undertaken after said period.
Labios said they have proven during the 2010 election, which was the first automated polls in the country, that one week after Election Day is enough time for the completion of the counting of ballots.
Comelec, in its Resolution No. 9598 issued January 21 this year, deputized DOE and electric cooperatives to provide uninterrupted power supply on the day before, on Election Day, and until the conclusion of the canvassing of election returns and proclamation of elected officials.
In return, DOE created Task Force Election 2013 to implement mitigating measures to address situations that may adversely affect the power supply during the polls. (RMN/PIA-7 CEBU)