REPAIR OF AKELCO’S SUBMARINE CABLE UNDERWAY

Preparatory activities for the actual repair of AKELCO’s damaged submarine cable starts today.

“The contractor has arrived, the AKELCO’s crew have been dispatched, the materials are ready, the process of repair will commenced today” this is the assurance given by AKELCO’s Engineering Department OIC Engineer Rogen delos Reyes in relation to the repair of the submarine cable damaged by a docking barge sometime in February this year.

According to Engr. Delos Reyes, the repair will last for about 2 weeks but considering the good weather condition, the teams are fast tracking the work and hopefully finish it sooner than 2 weeks.

AKELCO’s Construction and Planning Head Engineer Eugene Regatalio leads the six man team in constructing an A frame platform, a structure that will be used in hoisting and repairing the underwater cable. The team will likewise assist the technical staff of a Davao based Kilovolt contractor headed by Engineer Felix Hebiona all throughout the repair.

Power supply in the island will continue during the repair, but the local communication and cable lines will be affected particularly the PANTELCO and KALIBO CABLE.

This is due to the repair of the cable where the fiber optic lines being utilized by these companies are imbedded.KILOVOLT Team Leader Engr. Felix Hebiona however assured the cable and telephone companies concerned that cutting, splicing of the defective power cable where the fiber optic lines are embedded will take only 36 to 42 hours including power restoration.

AKELCO and KILOVOLT agreed to inform PANTELCO and Kalibo Cable three days prior to the actual cutting of the fiber optic lines in order to give them time to inform their consumers of their service interruption.

Starting tomorrow, KILOVOLT team will conduct cable fault testing to determine the exact number of fault on both sides of the cable.

Meanwhile, AKELCO is calling for a speedy review of the Municipal Ordinance that allows docking of large vessels in the area where major power and water installation is located. AKELCO’s letter requesting for the review is now lodge in Municipal Committee on Ordinances.

If continuous docking is allowed in the area, damaged of said vital installation is imminent and this will badly affect our primary tourism industry in Boracay Island.

The submarine cable is the only cable line used to transmit power to the island.