Electric cooperatives in Eastern Visayas are sending a “power restoration rapid deployment” (PRRD) task force this week to help re-establish electricity services in Eastern and Northern Samar provinces following the onslaught of Typhoon “Ambo.”
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said Monday two separate teams will be assisting the Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ESAMELCO) and Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORSAMELCO) with their ongoing power restoration activities.
PRRD Task Force Kapatid “Ambo” is composed of 67 line workers and support personnel equipped with boom trucks.
The work includes repair, rehabilitation, and comprehensive assessment of damage to power distribution facilities in the affected electric cooperatives, according to NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong.
The PRRD Task Force Kapatid “Ambo” is composed of 67 line workers and support personnel equipped with boom trucks and utility vehicles from nine participating power co-ops in Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar and Biliran Island.
The Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DORELCO); Leyte II, III and V Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (LEYECO II, LEYECO III and LEYECO V); Samar I and II Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (SAMELCO I and SAMELCO II) will be assisting NORSAMELCO.
The Leyte IV Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO IV), Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOLECO) and Biliran Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BILECO), meanwhile, are tasked to help out ESAMELCO whose power lines were cut and utility poles downed by fallen trees.
The members of the task force are expected to be in Eastern and Northern Samar for at least two weeks said Joey Talon, president of the Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region 8 (Frecor 8) and general manager of SAMELCO II.
As of Sunday (May 17), power outages were recorded in some areas across Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas regions in the wake of Typhoon ‘Ambo,’ based on the latest monitoring of the NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD).
In Eastern Samar, power has been fully restored in 14 municipalities and partially restored in the towns of Can-Avid, Sulat, and Taft. ESAMELCO said six municipalities namely, Dolores, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpio, Arteche and Jipapad remain without power.
For Northern Samar, power has been fully restored in the Municipality of San Vicente and partially restored in Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Laoang, and San Antonio. At least 18 other municipalities are still without electricity, according to NORSAMELCO.
Reports reaching the NEA-DRRMD as of Sunday afternoon, meanwhile, said power situation in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Albay, Biliran, and Masbate has returned to “generally normal.”