By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following power outages plaguing Bacolod City this week, Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) officer-in-charge, Engr. Jose Taniongon, blamed the incidents on heavy rains and bad weather conditions brought on by Tropical Storm Falcon.
Several areas of the city was without electricity between Tuesday and yesterday including Barangays Villamonte, Estefania, Granada, Alangilan, Bata, Sum-ag, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Mandalagan, Mansilingan, Handumanan, Taculing, Singcang, Vista Alegre, and Alijis.
Taniongon said strong winds and continuous rainfall toppled several utility poles.
He noted, the Bacolod-Silay 69kV transmission line, which affected the Burgos, Mountain View, Talisay, Lopez, and Panaogao Feeders, was also tripped.
Last October, thunderstorms knocked out power across parts of Negros Occidental.
The National Grid Power Corporation claimed the Bacolod-San Enrique 69kV line was tripped after structures toppled in Barangay Taloc, Bago City, causing power outages in the city, along with Valladolid, Pulupandan, and San Enrique.
The Bago City government later confirmed the said structures were the Hilangban Feeders 1 to 4, which fell due to high winds./DGB, WDJ