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BUKIDNON BLACKOUT THREAT RESOLVED: Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy Joint with the Committee on Cooperatives on PSR No. 133 chaired by Sens. Sherwin Gatchalian and Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, respectively conducted a public hearing to resolve the threatened blackout in Bukidnon due to the conflict between the Bukidnon Sub Transmission Corporation (BSTC) and Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative (Buseco). Sen. Zubiri, who filed SRN 133, raised the opportunity to review the Energy and Power Industry Reform Act to speed up interconnection, electrification, determine the correct tariffs and fees and to prevent crisis situations from arising in the future. Due to the unpaid sub-transmission fees worth P7.1 Million of Buseco, the BSTC poised to cut off power to Buseco service areas last September 15. The Energy Regulatory commission (ERC) intervened and ordered the BSTC to hold in abeyance the planned cut-off pending the review and approval of the sub-transmission fees by the ERC. A power cut-off would have disrupted the operations of 19 hospitals, all schools, government offices, factories, commercial establishments and thousands of households in nine towns and two cities in Bukidnon.