Despite all the beauties of our city, there is one thing that bothers absolutely everyone who either lives here or is just coming for a visit; blackouts!
Why are blackouts so common in Gensan?
There is actually not one single reason that is causing this problem. There are several overlapping structural and situational issues that we need to look into:
Fragile infrastructure
Power infrastructure in Gensan is old, battered with harsh environmental effects. High heat, frequent rains, and even salty air are contributing to faster degradation of electricity delivery infrastructure.
On top of that, in its inception, the power system was not built with the population boom that has happened in General Santos. There are no alternative routes established, so when failure happens, there is no way to redirect electricity, and all we can do is wait for repairs to be done.
Geographical issues
Needless to say, Mindanao is an island. There is no easy way to supplement electricity from other parts of the country. The rising population in Mindanao is demanding more and more electricity, and the supply simply cannot keep up.
In addition to that, a large chunk of Mindanao’s power comes from hydroplants, which are lately unreliable due to frequent droughts.
Environmental and external factors
Weather in Gensan can be unpredictable. Storms, strong winds, falling trees, or even everyday human activities like construction or road accidents can damage power lines and equipment. These incidents often lead to sudden, unplanned outages that can be difficult to anticipate or quickly resolve.
How to prepare for often blackouts
Essential items
- Rechargeable lamps – navigating in the dark can be quite difficult, and rechargeable LED lamps are a perfect and affordable solution for that problem. Even cheap options will last multiple hours, more than enough to take you through most blackouts
- Power bank – without phones, we are just lost. A good power bank will make sure your phone stays alive during a blackout, regardless if you need to make an emergency call, or just need it for entertainment purposes
- Battery-powered fan – blackouts have a tendency to be hot. Battery-powered fans will make your wait much more enjoyable
- Water – water supply may be interrupted during blackouts, so make sure you always have drinkable water ready at home
- Cash – ATM and digital payments may be disturbed during power outages, so make sure you have emergency cash ready
Other thigns to keep in mind during blackouts
First of all, make sure your phone and other rechargeable devices are always decently charged. You never know when a blackout will hit or how long it will last, and you don’t want to be caught with your battery empty
During a blackout, avoid opening the fridge and freezer needlessly to prevent the temperature from rising and food from spoiling. It’s also advisable to always have frozen water bottles in the freezer since that will help keep the temperature for a longer time.
Make sure you unplug your electric devices since a sudden power surge could damage them when electricity is back, and always keep one light on so you have a visual indicator when electricity is back
Frequently asked question
Where can I find information about blackouts
SOCOTECO II is the official electricity supplier for Gensan. Information on scheduled blackouts can be found on their website.
Their Facebook page is quite active and they do their best to push all needed information there
What is the difference between blackout and brownout?
The terms blackout and brownout are often used interchangeably, but they describe very different types of power interruptions. A blackout is a complete loss of power while a brownout is a partial reduction in voltage. Brownouts are much more dangerous since they are more likely to damage your electrical devices.
Despite commonly referring to them as brownouts in everyday language, Gensan is facing blackouts almost exclusively.
