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No brownout on May 10 in Mindanao — Dureza


A Malacañang adviser on Friday assured there will be no brownouts in Mindanao for at least two crucial days in May, during the country’s first nationwide automated polls. Presidential adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza said he received an assurance from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) that there will be power for Mindanao on May 9 and 10. “We got the assurance from the Napocor (NGCP’s predecessor) during Election Day on May 9 and 10, and probably 11, they will see to it na hindi magkakaroon ng power problem in the areas and they have already a Scenario A, contingency plan (We got an assurance from the National Power Corp. that they will make sure there will be no power problem on May 9 and 10 and probably 11. They have drawn up scenarios and contingency plans also)," Dureza said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Dureza’s assurance came amid persistent fears of poll fraud in Mindanao due to brownouts. He said that while the NGCP presently releases 10 percent of water from the Agus Grid, it will triple the release on Election Day. “On Election Day they will triple that release of water to see to it there will be no serious power problem in Mindanao," he said. Last March 23, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales Jr. said the government is working out a five-day brownout moratorium in Mindanao from May 8 to 12. Vigilance needed Despite the assurance from NGCP, Dureza called for vigilance to prevent poll fraud triggered by power failure. Malacañang’s critics had said the brownouts, as well as a series of attacks in Basilan province last Tuesday, could pave the way for a no-election (or failure-of-election) scenario. “Dapat magkaisa tayong lahat and see to it hindi ito mangyayari (We must work together to make sure these scenarios do not happen)," he said. — LBG, GMANews.TV

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