Toppled bamboo tree triggers brownout in Kidapawan

KIDAPAWAN CITY - A fallen huge grass-like bamboo fell on a major power transmission line in Kidapawan City's Ilomavis village, triggering a 2-hour power outage Saturday morning,electric officials said today.Electricity was out at 7:23 a.m.Engr. Godofredo Homez, Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) general manager,said the blackout occurred after a huge grass-like bamboo fell off toward the69 kilovolt (KV)line that traversed areas on Mount Apo. Homez said the blackout was unexpected. It happened when winds were strong and rain was heavy,” he explained. The area, especially at Sitio Sayaban in Barangay Ilomavis, here, experienced strong winds and heavy downpouraround 723 a.m., that caused a huge bamboo tree to fall off Cotelco’s distribution line, which is located 4-6 kilometers from the power source. Milfrance Capulong, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) regional communications officerfor Mindanao, said at least 15 megawattof power was shut off from the grid when Cotelco’s 69 KV line suffered ‘disturbance’ or trouble. After the cause of the blackout was pinpointed, Homez has immediately dispatched a team to perform line clearing and repairs. The power was restored around 9:20 a.m., also on Saturday, after almost two hours of total blackout, Homez said.