A snake disrupted the Batang Pinoy 2019 opening rites on Sunday at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex when it coiled around a PALECO post in Barangay Tiniguban, Puerto Princesa City, causing a temporary power outage.
“Mga kamay-ari, ito po ang dahilan kung bakit nawalan ng kuryente kagabi habang may programa sa opening ng Batang Pinoy. Bagama’t naibalik po ito dakong 7:39 p.m. matapos mawalan ng kuryente dakong 7:14 p.m. sa bahagi ng single phase sa Smart, Purok Sandiwa, Tiniguiban, PPC. Nabatid na may nagshort na linya dahil sa may pumulupot na ahas sa steel pole sa lugar,” said the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) in the statement.
City administrator and legal counsel, Atty. Arnel Pedrosa, on the other hand, expressed their loss of confidence in PALECO to deliver good service, especially during important occasions like the Batang Pinoy.
Pedrosa said the city government rented one generator set for the event as a contingency measure.
“Mayroon tayong contingency na ginamit kasi hindi na nga natin pinagtitiwalaan din ‘yong PALECO. Kumbaga less na ‘yong expectation natin sa kaniya na magde-deliver talaga siya. Kahit may mga okasyon na importante, bigla-bigla silang nag-ga-ganun. Talagang very poor ‘yong performance,” said Pedrosa.
He said it took the city government five minutes to provide power to the sports complex by using the generator set.
A lot of people from the audience left the venue, he said.
Pedrosa stated PALECO has placed Puerto Princesa in a very embarrassing situation.
“Tingnan mo ‘yong damage na ginawa nila. Talagang gusto nilang sirain, wittingly or unwittingly parang gusto nilang sirain ‘yong image ng Puerto Princesa. Nakakahiya agad. Maganda sana ‘yong naging preparation natin except that portion, iyon lang talaga. Very exceptional. Highly exceptional siya, grabe,” said Pedrosa.
Pedrosa noted that while he is not that familiar where the generator set was leased by the city government, the electricity it could generate is “just enough” to power the stage area and other parts of the sports complex.
