Speak Up! On the Power Shortage Situation in Zamboanga City

We all have various personal experiences regarding the inconvenience of the power shortage and current fluctuations that occur in the city of Zamboanga. But what do residents have to say?

This is a small feature on Zamboanguenos sharing their opinion on the power shortage situation in the city. The identities of the respondents have been kept confidential. However, it is the actual responses that are interesting to note on three simple questions:

34, Entrepreneur, Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City

1. If you were to rate your satisfaction as a consumer on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being poor an 5 being excellent, how would ZAMCELCO fare? Why?

1- always blackout

2. If you had friends, relatives and guests visiting Zamboanga, how would you explain the power situation? 

Our government cannot resolve the issue, is there possible corruption? 

3. Please share an unforgettable experience with the blackouts in the city. 

When I was trying to finish something important like paper work while using the computer then blackout occurred, it is very inconvenient. 

48, Female, Government Employee, Talon-Talon

1. If you were to rate your satisfaction as a consumer on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being poor an 5 being excellent, how would ZAMCELCO fare? Why?

1. Blackouts existed since I was a child, so there's nothing new. It just became worse with climate change and so with the environment. 

41, Male, Government Employee, Suterville, Zamboanga City 

1. If you were to rate your satisfaction as a consumer on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being poor an 5 being excellent, how would ZAMCELCO fare? Why?

1- Very poor in all of its service

2. If you had friends, relatives and guests visiting Zamboanga, how would you explain the power situation? 

WMPC-Crown Dispute

3. Please share an unforgettable experience with the blackouts in the city. 

Unscheduled blackouts, while at 1 AM while you are sleeping, 

24, Male, Administrative Assistant, Recodo, Zamboanga City 

1. If you were to rate your satisfaction as a consumer on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being poor an 5 being excellent, how would ZAMCELCO fare? Why?

1

2. If you had friends, relatives and guests visiting Zamboanga, how would you explain the power situation? 

Economic reasons and also water scarcity

3. Please share an unforgettable experience with the blackouts in the city.

Nasira ang aircon namin.

Not only can these power interruptions hamper operations and activities, but even resources can be damaged. A friend of ours said that due to the power interruptions, her television set was destroyed, and all that's coming from her TV is the audio during evening news. Luckily, her thoughtful brother bought her a replacement television but she fears that the same thing will happen with the continuous power fluctuations being experienced in her home. 

It can be frustrating especially if there's nobody accountable for the damages on household appliances that one has worked hard for. It can be embarrassing for visitors and guests, and can be difficult for people who are trying to put their best foot forward to introduce the beauty of la ciudad, but at the risk of the power situation in the city. 

To describe the sentiments of the residents of the city, bastante ya, (enough already). 

How about you? What are your thoughts on the power situation in the city?