The work to get electricity back in several provinces hit by Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut) is progressing well with power having been completely restored to 87 percent of households, based on the latest data gathered by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 25, the NEA Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department (DRRM) reported power was fully restored to 2,072,095 or 87.67 percent of the 2,363,504 affected households in 19 provinces covered by 22 electric cooperatives (ECs).
Restoration is ongoing to the remaining 291,409 households, spread over the provinces of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, Isabela, Ilocos Sur, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Aurora.
“With caution, we are moving forward as fast as we can to alleviate the suffering of our MCOs.”
Meanwhile, “Ompong’s” estimated damage to the distribution facilities of the 22 ECs has climbed to P218.263 million as of Tuesday, September 25, with the highest amount sustained by the Cagayan I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Cagelco I) at P64.032 million followed by Cagelco II at P50.059 million.
The Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Beneco) incurred an estimated damage of P21.842 million; Abra Electric Cooperative (Abreco), P20 million; Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (INEC), P15.500 million; and Isabela II Electric Cooperative (Iselco II), P12 million.
NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong expects the number of the remaining households without power to decrease significantly as several EC organizations have already teamed up to assist other ECs in northern Luzon in their restoration efforts.
“The number of the remaining households without power is expected to decrease significantly as several EC organizations have already teamed up to assist other ECs in northern Luzon in their restoration efforts.”
“With the rest of Luzon electric cooperatives and allied organizations, including ECs from the Bicol Region, sending their line workers’ contingents to Cagayan, Kalinga and Isabela under the auspices of the Power Restoration Rapid Deployment (PRRD) Task Force “Ompong” and the supervision of the NEA Technical Services, we can hope for a fast-tracked restoration of electricity services in the affected areas,” Masongsong said.
“Let me remind the member-consumer-owners (MCOs) in the affected provinces that electricity is a dangerous thing to work with. With caution, we are moving forward as fast as we can to alleviate the suffering of our MCOs while ensuring the safety of the rural electrification movement’s unsung heroes – the linemen and other field workers. Sandali na lang po at dadaloy nang muli ang serbisyo ngkuryente sa inyong mga kabahayan,” the NEA chief added.
The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, the Philippine Federation of Electric Cooperatives, the Northeast Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association, the Central Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association, and the Bicol Electric Cooperatives Association formed Power Restoration Rapid Deployment Task Force “Ompong” to help fast-track the repair of the damaged distribution facilities in heavily affected provinces, such as Cagayan and Kalinga.
