DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) – An official of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Negros Oriental has confirmed that power load shedding in areas in the Visayas is already taking place amid a growing deficit in electricity supply in the region.

Engineer Sonia Ruiz, line transmission engineer of the NGCP sub-station in Amlan town, Negros Oriental, said the load shedding is irregular and unannounced and could take place anytime without prior notice to the public.

Many residents here have continuously been complaining of power outages, low voltage and power surges which have caused damage to their electrical appliances, while business groups here also expressed apprehension that the power interruption would impact on their businesses and the local economy.

However, Ruiz explained that the load shedding, while unpredictable, has to be implemented. Otherwise, she warned, the entire system will lock down and “that will be a bigger problem.”

The Visayas grid connects the islands of Leyte, Cebu, Negros and Panay through submarine cables.According to Ruiz, the NGCP systems operations center in Cebu decides on load shedding at any time and day when necessary, Ruiz added.