Rotational brownouts unlikely with rains

Sunstar Davao

POWER supply will continue to stabilize for as long as there will be rain, and with the summer season already arriving amid gloomy weather, an official of the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) foresees better days compared to last year.

Rodger Velasco, vice president for Engineering of DLPC, told Sun.Star Davao that power supply shortage happens during a long dry spell since Mindanao's main power source is hydroelectric.

"Pag maraming ulan na darating, the lesser the probability na magkaka-power shortage" Velasco said.

That's why the water level of Lanao Lake in Marawi City is being monitored since the hydroelectric power plants are drawing power from this.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Davao City said that the entire 2011 may experience more rainy days than the usual.

Gerry Pedrico, chief of Pagasa in Davao City, said the whole year may be entirely rainy due to the La Niña phenomenon.

Pedrico said that normally starting March, the weather tends to become hotter as the summer season draws near, but this will likely not be the case this year as the rainy season is extended.

"Dili normal ang dagan sa panahon karon, dapat ani tag-init na pero naga ulan-ulan lang gihapon panagsa (The weather condition is not normal. These days should already be hot, but they're not)," Pedrico said.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on March 17, 2011.