‘Turn off appliances so there’s enough electricity for Pacquiao fight’

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines — Residents of the western Philippines are being asked to turn off their refrigerators so there will be enough electricity to watch this weekend’s fight between local boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

Rante Ramos, secretary of the electrical cooperative on the island of Palawan, posted the appeal on Facebook on Wednesday, saying that the area faced a power shortfall that might result in an outage on Sunday when the long-awaited fight airs in the Philippines.

“Truth is, come May 3… Palawan grid would still be 2-megawatt short of power supply. Some circuits may inevitably be switched off,” he warned.

“Collectively we can do something. On May 3, let’s all voluntarily switch off or disconnect as many appliances as we could,” he said, asking that about 15,000 homes switch off their refrigerators for a few hours.

He also urged people not to use their washing machines, air-conditioners and irons until the fight is over.

Palawan’s capital of Puerto Princesa has been suffering daily power outages lasting two to three hours due to a supply shortfall.

However the entire nation is eagerly anticipating the “fight of the century” between Pacquiao, regarded as a national figure, and unbeaten American Mayweather to finally answer who is the better pound-for-pound boxer of their generation.

The fight is going to be shown live in public on widescreen TVs in the city, sponsored by two candidates who are running for mayor in Puerto Princesa elections on May 8.

It will also be shown on a pay-per-view basis in many bars and hotels of the popular resort city.

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