3-hour brownouts loom over Metro Manila, Bulacan

MANILA, Philippines - Residents of Metro Manila and Bulacan are likely to suffer a two- to three-hour brownout this Christmas season due to the impending shutdown of the Sucat-Araneta-Balintawak transmission lines. The shutdown is in accordance with a Supreme Court order favoring residents of Dasmariñas Village, according to Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes. Reyes said the affected areas are those in the north sector of the Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) franchise area, particularly: * Major portion of the Bulacan served by Meralco’s Sta. Maria, Bocaue, and Meycauayan substations; * The whole of Caloocan City served by Grace Park substation and the whole of Novaliches served by Novaliches, Bagbaguin & Kaybiga substations; * The whole of Malabon & Valenzuela served by Meralco’s Malabon and Malinta substations; * Most of Manila served by Meralco’s North Port, Tegen, Tutuban and Sta. Mesa substations; * Most of Quezon City served by Meralco’s Diliman, Kamuning, Sta. Mesa and Novaliches substations; and * Portion of Makati Business District, including Rockwell Center served by Meralco’s Rockwell bank #1 “Because of the vulnerability of the system to a total system collapse in case a shutdown is implemented, (National Transmission Commission) is putting in place defensive measures to address the adverse effects of the line shutdown while the case is still pending,” Reyes said. TransCo vice-president for operations Carlito Claudio said they expect the rotating brownouts to stretch until the summer months. He said the brownouts would occur between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Claudio said they are now studying possible contingency measure to address the looming power shortage in the Metropolis. TransCo has filed a motion to the SC requesting that it be given until January 31, 2009 to undertake activities and coordination works to mitigate the effects of the mandated shutdown of the transmission line. The high court however denied the motion and instead upheld the ruling of the Makati metropolitan trial court against the energization of the transmission lines. Residents of Dasmarinas Village, citing health risks due to electromagnetic radiation, filed a case in 2000 with the Makati MTC. After failed negotiations, the case was elevated to the SC. - GMANews.TV