Power distribution services in the respective areas of the electric cooperatives (ECs) in Zambales and Pampanga that were affected by the onslaught of Typhoon “Pepito” are now back to normal, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said.
Based on the monitoring report of the NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD) as of Thursday, October 22, the Zambales I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMECO I), Zambales II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMECO II), and Pampanga III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PELCO III) have reported normal operations.
Meanwhile, the Isabela I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ISELCO I) reported that it has fully restored electricity service to 229,829 or 99.41 percent of the households affected by the outages.
These households are in the cities of Cauayan and Santiago, municipalities of Alicia, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Cordon, Jones, Luna, Ramon, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, San Guillermo, San Isidro, and San Mateo.
Restoration efforts continue for the Municipality of Echague where around 1,374 households are still without electricity. ISELCO I targets the full restoration of these households by Sunday, October 25.
The initial cost of damage incurred by ISELCO I from “Pepito” was P261,206, based on the NEA DRRMD report.
Meanwhile, the NEA has directed all ECs to remain alert and have emergency response organizations ready as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced that the low-pressure area (LPA) east of Mindanao has developed into Tropical Depression “Quinta” at 2 p.m. Friday, October 23.
“Pepito” (international name “Saudel”) made landfall as a tropical storm over San Ildefonso Peninsula in Casiguran, Aurora, on Tuesday, October 20, and intensified into a typhoon after exiting PAR on Thursday, October 22, according to state weather bureau Pagasa.