Bicol traders sore over spotty power

Businessmen in at least four provinces in the Bicol region are getting sore over the continued intermittent power interruptions, which they said had disrupted their activity. Radio dzRH reported Saturday morning that the power interruptions, which started nine days ago and last up to six hours a day, have continued until Friday night. It said traders particularly dealing in frozen foods, malls, restaurants, department stores and even radio stations have started complaining that the situation is “hindi na biro (no longer a joke)." Not even the use of power generators can compensate for the loss in business opportunities because of the power interruptions, they said. The power interruptions, caused by the failure of a power line in Quezon province linking Bicol to the Luzon grid, started nine days ago. Rehabilitation work is ongoing on the downed line. Affected by the lack of electric power were the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur. Residents in Sorsogon have also complained that in many homes, power is not restored until 8:30 p.m. National Transmission Co. (Transco) officials have not given a timetable on when power will be fully restored. Energy officials have temporarily tapped power from the Tiwi geothermal plant in Albay. - GMANews.TV