By CESAR JOLITO III

Consumer group Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) is calling for an emergency power restoration summit to address the lingering power interruptions in Bacolod City and parts of Negros Occidental following the devastation of Typhoon “Tino,” while setting aside the blame game and focusing instead on recovery.

“Let’s put aside the blame and work together to restore what’s been lost,” ACCESS President Wennie Sancho said in a statement.

Sancho urged all stakeholders — including local government units (LGUs), Negros Electric and Power Corporation and electricity consumers — to focus on collaborative recovery efforts.

“The devastation is already done, and pointing fingers will not bring back the power. Let’s focus on rebuilding and supporting each other,” he added.

Sancho proposed that the Liga ng mga Barangay convene the summit to facilitate coordination among power distributors, LGUs and community leaders, emphasizing the need for a united approach to power restoration and future resilience.

Sancho also reminded LGUs of their responsibility under Republic Act (RA) 11361, or the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act, which mandates local governments to prevent obstructions such as tree branches from interfering with electrical lines.

“It is unfortunate that most of our barangay councils have not fully implemented the provisions of RA 11361,” Sancho noted.

“Local governments should work hand in hand with distribution utilities to trim or cut trees near power lines and avoid disruptions in the future,” he added.

Sancho echoed former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela’s earlier statement that the coordination between LGUs and power providers must be reassessed, particularly in enforcing policies concerning vegetation management and safety clearances around power infrastructure.

Sancho also appealed to politicians not to politicize the issue of power restoration, urging them instead to show support and presence in affected communities.

“We can evaluate what went wrong later, but right now, unity is the most important source of power we have,” he said.

The call comes as several barangays in Bacolod and neighboring towns continue to experience partial blackouts more than a week after Typhoon “Tino” battered Negros Island on November 4, toppling power poles and uprooting trees that damaged critical distribution lines./CJ, WDJ