Power restored in some areas hit by calamities

THE Department of Energy (DOE), alongside its attached agencies, continues to monitor and address the power situation in areas that were hit by recent calamities across the country.

“We are in constant and close coordination with the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), and distribution utilities in the typhoon-affected areas as well as other calamity-affected provinces to restore power as soon as possible,” said Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla.

Power has been restored in all towns under the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (Iseco) franchise area affected by Typhoon Vinta, while all twentythree towns being served by Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (Inec) have been energized, except for the remote barangays.

In Cagayan, NEA reported that 18 out of the 29 towns (62 percent) in the province have been energized. For the Cagayan 1 Electric Cooperative (Cagelco I) franchise area, power has been restored in all twelve municipalities it serves.

For Cagelco 2 franchise area, however, the Municipalities of Abulug, Ballesteros, Buguey, Calayan, Claveria, Gattaran, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Sta. Ana, Sta. Praxedes, and Sta. Teresita, and parts of Appari and Gonzaga are still without power. Moreover, the towns of Flora, Luna, Pudtol and Santa Marcela in Apayao province, which are also served by Cagelco 22, remain unenergized.

NGCP reported that it has completed the repair of the Magapit-Sta. Teresita-Sta. Ana 69-kV transmission line segment as of 6 p.m. yesterday. Also, it has already restored the Tuguegarao-Magapit-Camalaniugan 69kV line segment as early as the evening of November 4.

Total power restoration of municipalities and barangays affected by the recent typhoon Vinta is expected in two to three weeks’ time.

A total of 20 barangays in Nueva Ecija affected by Typhoon Santi remain partially energized due to accessibility concerns. Power restoration on household level of barangays under Nueva Ecija I Electric Cooperative (Neeco I) franchise area is targeted for completion on 19 November, while Neeco II-Area2 by tomorrow.

At least 94 percent of total households in Bohol have been energized after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the province last month. Meanwhile, remaining unenergized households still have to undergo further inspections for damages before receiving power.