Eastern Visayas In Darkness

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines - Five power plants of the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Kananga in Leyte province bogged down simultaneously for still unknown reasons and putting the Eastern Visayas Region in total blackout and affecting the power supply of some other parts of the Visayas and Luzon areas, according to a report by the Philippine News Agency.

This was also confirmed by Edna Legaspina, corporate communications officer of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)-Ormoc City Office.

NGCP is formerly the National Transmission Corporation (Transco).

Legaspina said that four of the power plants are owned by the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) and the other one is owned by the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).

The Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant is the only source of power supply in Region VIII.

The NAPOCOR and the PNOC have not yet explained to the NGCP the cause of the incident, according to Legaspina.

She clarified that the transmission lines in all parts of the region are all functional.

She added that the NGCP could not tell when the power supply would be restored.

The total blackout occurred starting at 9:38 a.m., amidst the final preparations for the Palarong Pambansa 2009 which is set to be launched tonight by having the pre-pageant of the Search for "Mr. and Ms. Palarong Pambansa." (Garry A. Vacunawa)