Power distribution services are largely back to normal in Batangas province, except for some villages that are within the seven-kilometer danger zone of Taal Volcano.
The Batangas I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC I) reported to the National Electrification Administration (NEA) it has fully restored electricity for 18 out of 21 barangays in the Municipality of Agoncillo as of Friday, January 31.
Taal’s status from Alert Level 4 to 3 last Sunday (January 26). Taal went on Alert Level 4 for two weeks, since January 12.
These are the villages of Adia, Bagong Sikat, Balangon, Bangin, Barigon, Coral na Munti, Guitna, Mabini, Pamiga, Panhulan, Pansipit, Poblacion, Pook, San Jacinto, San Teodoro, Santa Cruz, Santo Tomas, and Subic Ibaba.
BATELEC I general manager Alvin Velasco said the remaining three barangays—Banyaga, Bilibinwang, and Subic Ilaya—could not be restored at the moment as these villages remain off-limits due to their close proximity to the volcano island.
Velasco also said BATELEC-I has temporarily disconnected the supply of electricity from a total of 469 damaged houses across 15 barangays in Agoncillo. Service reconnections will be made as soon as the household owners saw it safe for them to return home permanently.
Meanwhile, power situation in the towns of Lemery, San Nicolas, Santa Teresita, and Taal—with a total combined households of 47,265—has likewise normalized.
BATELEC I has also implemented a forced power shutdown in these areas, which were earlier placed on lockdown, as a precautionary measure.
Velasco said they immediately worked on the restoration of power services after the Batangas provincial government lifted the restrictions it had imposed earlier in these areas.
“Kahit pa noong hindi pa masyadong nakababa ang alert level, two days (after the phreatic eruption of Taal), pumasok na agad ang mga empleyado at naglinis na ang mga lineman upang buhayin ang ilaw para pagbalik (nila) sa kanilang mga tahanan may ilaw na,” Velasco said.
The general manager cited some challenges to fully restore power in some areas heavily affected by the volcanic activity, such as toppled utility poles. “First time in history ng BATELEC I na mangyari ito,” he added.
Some challenges to fully restore power in some areas heavily affected by the volcanic activity, such as toppled utility poles.
Velasco, however, assured that their work will continue until all areas in Batangas under the franchise of BATELEC I are fully energized.
With respect to the coverage areas of Batangas II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC II), power restoration efforts were completed for the municipalities of Cuenca, Malvar, Mataasnakahoy, Talisay, Lipa City, and Tanauan City as well as majority of communities in Balete and Laurel.
The barangays of Gulod, Buso-buso, and Bugaan East in Laurel, and Calawit in Balete remain on lockdown, however, as these areas are within the 7-km danger zone from the main crater of the volcano.
The Batangas provincial government eased up the restrictions after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowered Taal’s status from Alert Level 4 to 3 last Sunday (January 26). Taal went on Alert Level 4 for two weeks, since January 12.
Taal remains under Alert Level 3, which means “sudden steam-driven and even weak phreatomagmatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ashfall, and lethal volcanic gas expulsions can still occur and threaten areas within Taal Volcano Island and nearby lake shores,” according to Phivolcs.