Mactan hotels prepare for power interruptions

Members of the Hotels, Resorts, and Restaurants Association of Cebu (HRRAC) had already started preparations for the power interruptions on Mactan Island this Holy Week.

Carlo Suarez, HRRAC president, said they are supporting the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines project despite expected surge of visitors in tourism establishments this time.

The NGCP announced power interruptions from April 9 to 15 including blackouts on the 9th and 15th.

“All our members are preparing already. We are supporting their project and we really thank NGCP for coordinating with us,” he told reporters on Monday.

Representatives of NGCP met with HRRAC members, particularly those from Mactan Island, last Friday to explain the expansion project at the Lapu-Lapu Gas-Insulated Substation.

Suarez, general manager of Cebu Grand Hotel, said no concerns were raised by HRRAC members because NGCP informed them early.

He said hotels on the island are expected to have good occupancy during Holy Week since “everybody wants to have a vacation.”

Data from accommodation establishments gathered by the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) showed that Lapu-Lapu City is the second most visited place in Cebu, only after Cebu City.

Cebu welcomed 3.4 million tourists from January to November in 2016, of which 1.25 million were logged in Lapu-Lapu City.

The power interruptions, according to the NGCP, were part of their preparation for the eventual tapping and energization of a new 100-Megavolt-ampere transformer by July.

Ma. Rosette Martinez, NGCP Visayas spokesperson, said the existing two transformers will have to be shut down to accommodate the reconfiguration of feeders.

There will be no power in these areas from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 9 and 15 to give way to the reconfiguration of the feeders, said Martinez.

She said there will be power supply from April 10 to 14, but it will be unstable since only one transformer will be working during that period.