The National Power Corp. yesterday said Wednesday's earthquake that triggered a blackout in many areas in the Visayas has not damaged its generating plants and assured the continuous supply of energy in the Visayas grid.

A blackout tripped off power to the Visayas at 10:02 a.m. Wednesday and was fully restored in Negros Occidental at 3:45 p.m. of the same day.

Eduardo Eroy, NAPOCOR vice president for thermal generation and Visayas head, said power supply to the entire Visayas grid was fully restored by 6:11 p.m. Wednesday, around eight hours after the quake hit Leyte Island.

Rains to hit Negros,
but not 'Caloy'

Expect "Caloy" rains today, don't forget your umbrellas, PDMT says.*

MANILA -- Tropical storm "Caloy" roared toward the Philippines' Pacific coast yesterday, leaving thousands stranded at key ferry crossings and triggering official warnings of landslides and flash floods.

The Provincial Disaster Management Team said the storm would not hit northern Negros Occidental as earlier expected as it had moved upward, but its wide radius would cause rain to hit the province.

Civil defense officials suspended most ferry services in the Bicol peninsula southeast of Manila, leaving 2,115 passengers and dozens of vehicles stranded at the key ports of Matnog, Pilar and Bulan.

CAFGUs to secure
geothermal facilities
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units will soon secure the geothermal power plants and facilities of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company in Negros island.

Eighty-eight Special Civilian Active Auxiliary members completed a three-month basic military training on Wednesday at the 303rd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia.

Brig. Gen. Jerry Jalandoni, 303rd Infantry Brigade commanding general, said the 88 SCAA members will soon be deployed to secure PNOC geothermal power plants in Bago City, Negros Occidental, and in Dauin, Oriental Negros.