Power outages, brownouts in Mindanao

[tallcoolone 102]

[Richie Rich 70]

Has anyone seen anything on the news about the almost daily brownouts, power outages the last week or so in Mindanao? Or is this just normal for the philippines ?

Maybe I will apply for an expedite based on these hardships that my fiancee faces everyday --just saying .

[graceroxas 17]

Brownouts have been common because the water levels in the Hydro plants have been low for some time. Almost 3/4 of the hydro on Mindanao is from plants on the Agus River, eminating out of Lake Lanao in the heart of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). More than half the electricity is hydro on Mindanao.

The additional factor there is that the MILF blows up the distribution line towers from time to time because they don't like the resources from their region being commandeered by the government.

In Iligan City, the first major city directly from the Agus River power stations, eight-hour brown-outs were occurring in our sector of the city one year ago. It's better now but there are still fairly regular rolling brownouts. We bought a generator for our house.

El Nino is the main culprit on these water level crises. They are installing more capacity. APC claims they have 55 hydro plants on the board.

The MILF seems to have a more complicated relationship with the power companies there. When I was writing a coffee table book under the auspices of the National Power Corp, I had to forgo going to that area myself because apparently, we would have to be escorted to certain places of interest not by government soldiers but by MILF rebels. There seems to be a gentlemen's agreement in place that enables government to nominally function in the MILF-controlled areas.

Grace

[rlogan 2,036]

The MILF seems to have a more complicated relationship with the power companies there. When I was writing a coffee table book under the auspices of the National Power Corp, I had to forgo going to that area myself because apparently, we would have to be escorted to certain places of interest not by government soldiers but by MILF rebels. There seems to be a gentlemen's agreement in place that enables government to nominally function in the MILF-controlled areas.

Grace

True to a significant degree, but are you saying I'm imagining the bombings of towers?

Like this one:

MILF Bombing Causes Mindanao Blackout

Or this one:

Two Towers Bombed

Or this one:

ARMM Transmission Tower bomb

It isn't just the transmission towers. Two years ago they took out the bridge over the Agus River next to Maria Christina Falls power plant. Many examples.

It is no surprise needing MILF escorts in either the ARMM or in any MILF held territory. I suspect strongly there are "Gentlemen's Agreements", absolutely - money to the MILF buys "protection" for power lines. They get protection money from farmers, ranchers, businessmen, bus lines, etc. You must know this if you have that level of familiarity with Mindanao. There was a big fuss recently over the politicians paying to campaign in NPA territory. Business as usual in the Philippines, and not just Mindanao.

The MILF has a website. I follow their articles, and this power generation/transmission matter is still a sore spot with them. They also feel the ARMM is corrupt, and not desrving of the transfers the national government is making to it in part as compensation for their natural resources.

Even when the MILF supposedly agrees to something, the always-fractured nature of these rebel groups leaves some splinter group unhappy and they continue to fight on.

I do agree with you that the MILF works with the power company, because the NPC really has no choice. But the bombings of power lines, bridges, stores, buses and all - it's a long way from over on Mindanao.

Cheers.

[tallcoolone 102]

Maybe I will apply for an expedite based on these hardships that my fiancee faces everyday --just saying .

It seems to work fine for the all the illegals aliens sneaking into the USA everyday, Their hardship they can't find work or they can't make enough money selling drugs in Mexico so they need to sell them in USA where they can make a good living.......

[graceroxas 17]

True to a significant degree, but are you saying I'm imagining the bombings of towers?

Cheers.

Nope. Bombings in Muslim Mindanao are so much a part of many Pinoys' idea of business as usual there that they hardly make headlines anymore in the national news, unless MILF and the other Islamic renegades bring their dirty business to a busy Metro Manila street or the body count is very high indeed that "imperial" Manila just had to take notice.

Grace

[Ban Hammer 12,878]

It seems to work fine for the all the illegals aliens sneaking into the USA everyday, Their hardship they can't find work or they can't make enough money selling drugs in Mexico so they need to sell them in USA where they can make a good living.......

not all illegals are from mexico, nor do all illegals in the usa sell drugs.

[Dakine 26]

No Doubt, It is heads and shoulder the best city in Philippines, and it is by far the most safest for Americans. The Mayor runs that city with an Iron Fist and he don't play with criminal or drug addict or drug dealers.

What happens when the current mayor goes "belly up"?

[sunandmoon 450]

No Doubt, It is heads and shoulder the best city in Philippines, and it is by far the most safest for Americans. The Mayor runs that city with an Iron Fist and he don't play with criminal or drug addict or drug dealers.

What happens when the current mayor goes "belly up"?

The current mayor is his daughter.

[rlogan 2,036]

Nope. Bombings in Muslim Mindanao are so much a part of many Pinoys' idea of business as usual there that they hardly make headlines anymore in the national news, unless MILF and the other Islamic renegades bring their dirty business to a busy Metro Manila street or the body count is very high indeed that "imperial" Manila just had to take notice.

Grace

I liked your wording. Have to agree.

[Tahoma 2,291]

It seems to work fine for the all the illegals aliens sneaking into the USA everyday, Their hardship they can't find work or they can't make enough money selling drugs in Mexico so they need to sell them in USA where they can make a good living.......

Yet another willful violation of the TOS.

not all illegals are from mexico, nor do all illegals in the usa sell drugs.

Yet another non-response.

From the Terms of Service:

Permitted Uses. You agree that you are responsible for any Content and communications that you Post and for any consequences thereof. You agree to use the Service (including but not limited to the discussion forums) only to send and receive messages, material, and in general Content that is in conformity with or permitted by law (legal), proper and if part of the discussion forums then also related to the particular subject matter. By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree that when using the Service, you will not:

Post Content intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against a broad demographic or group of people identified by a unifying trait or characteristic (discrimination). For instance, racist or sexist content may be considered hate speech.

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

Why are some of you playing word games. All Tall cool one said was a fact...many illegal immigrants are mexicans and many come her to smuggle and sell drugs and form violent gangs. Not all but many are. And of course there are other illegals from other countries but the largest numbers are by far mexican. If you all can not accept hearing a man state a fact then you all need to grow up.

[sunandmoon 450]

Why are some of you playing word games. All Tall cool one said was a fact...many illegal immigrants are mexicans and many come her to smuggle and sell drugs and form violent gangs. Not all but many are. And of course there are other illegals from other countries but the largest numbers are by far mexican. If you all can not accept hearing a man state a fact then you all need to grow up.

yeah, let's all act like grown ups...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33giL9jLxvs

[Tahoma 2,291]

Why are some of you playing word games. All Tall cool one said was a fact...many illegal immigrants are mexicans and many come her to smuggle and sell drugs and form violent gangs. Not all but many are. And of course there are other illegals from other countries but the largest numbers are by far mexican. If you all can not accept hearing a man state a fact then you all need to grow up.

No, that's not what TCO said. If you don't understand what he said, please take a reading comprehension class.

yeah, let's all act like grown ups...

Agreed. Following the TOS would be a great start.

[tallcoolone 102]

The current mayor is his daughter.

Just another reasons why I love the Philippines and especially Davao

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigo_Duterte