Electric cooperatives (ECs) have started restoring power distribution services to several provinces that experienced outages due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ursula, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said.
The NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD) reported that 16 provinces in Mimaropa, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Western Visayas lost electricity due to the effects of Typhoon Ursula. There are 29 ECs in these provinces affected by the storm.
Power distribution utilities were also directed to activate their respective Emergency Response Organizations.
As of Thursday (December 26), NEA DRRMD said efforts to restore power are ongoing to the provinces of Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Capiz, Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Biliran, Leyte, Eastern Samar, and Western Samar.
Meanwhile, power distribution services were restored to normal in the coverage areas of Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BISELCO), Guimaras Electric Cooperative, Inc. (GUIMELCO), Antique Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANTECO), Iloilo I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO I), Iloilo II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO II), Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NONECO), Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NOCECO), Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORECO II), Cebu I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEBECO I), Cebu II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEBECO II), Samar I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SAMELCO I).
On December 20, NEA DRRMD issued an advisory requiring all ECs to take appropriate contingency measures to mitigate the possible impact of the typhoon that might affect their electric service to consumers.
The power distribution utilities were also directed to activate their respective Emergency Response Organization (ERO) when the need arises to implement without delay their appropriate emergency response plans.
Typhoon Ursula (international name Phanfone) made its first landfall over Salcedo, Eastern Samar at 4:45 p.m. on Christmas Eve, according to the state weather bureau PAGASA.