By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the dispute which took place between some uncooperative landowners and repair crews belonging to local power cooperatives operating in the province has been resolved.

According to Lacson, power in the southern part of the province may be restored in one and a half months.

A total of 200 electrical posts were downed following the onslaught of super typhoon “Odette.”

The governor said they have received additional help from power cooperatives based in Iloilo in order to expedite power restoration in the affected areas.

So far most of the electricity in the northern and central parts of the province had already been restored, although power in far-flung villages, especially those located in the mountains, have not yet been fully-restored.

However, as of posting several power cooperatives such as the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) and the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) have already shifted their repair works in the said areas.

Among the areas that still do not have power are from the mountain barangays of Don Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava and San Carlos City.

Earlier, provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the restoration of electricity in the typhoon-hit areas is being hampered by landowners who are refusing entry to repair teams.

The dispute over the landowners’ refusal was over rights of way. The problem is particularly rampant in the town of Ilog, one of the hardest hit areas in southern Negros.

The provincial government had already appealed to the uncooperative landowners not to hold hostage the welfare of the people in the southern part of the province./DGB, WDJ