‘Tisoy’ cuts 31 power transmission lines

Several provinces in the Calabarzon and Bicol regions as well as in the Visayas plunged into darkness after Typhoon “Tisoy” (international name: Kammuri) took out of service 31 transmission lines in these areas, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

“Inspection and restoration of lines in the affected areas will be in full swing as soon as the weather allows,” NGCP said in a bulletin.

The grid operator said that in Luzon, the transmission lines that were rendered unavailable were mostly in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.

There were also 13 lower-rated facilities—at 69 kilovolts—that were rendered unavailable in Luzon and five in the Visayas.

Other affected provinces

Other affected provinces included Laguna, Batangas and Quezon.

This resulted in power going out in the distribution areas of Manila Electric Co., First Bay Power Corp., Batangas 2 Electric Cooperative, First Laguna Electric Cooperative, and Quezon 1 and 2 Electric Cooperatives.

Also interrupted were distribution services in the business areas of Camarines Sur 2 and 3 Electric Cooperatives, Albay Power Energy Corp. and Sorsogon 1 Electric Cooperative.

In the Visayas, affected areas include those of Samar 1 Electric Cooperative, Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative, Leyte 5 Electric Cooperative, and Biliran Electric Cooperative.

In a separate bulletin, the Department of Energy said staterun National Power Corp. reported that 19 diesel power plant barges went out of action in Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque,

Quezon, Aurora and Isabela.

As this developed, almost 350,000 hectares of farmlands are at risk of being ravaged by Tisoy.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday that 316,462 ha and 31,622 ha of rice and corn lands, respectively, are expected to be destroyed in areas where Tisoy will make landfall.

These are the regions of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas, where most of the major rice-producing provinces are.

The DA said it has prepared a standby fund of P250 million for the rehabilitation of areas that could be affected.