MANILA - As the country braces for a super typhoon, the Department of Energy (DOE) said electricity has yet to be restored in all areas affected by a string of calamities that struck last month.
In a report, the DOE said power has been restored in all towns belonging to the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative franchise area, and in 23 municipalities served by Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, except for remote barangays.
In Cagayan province, 18 out of its 29 towns have been energized, according to a report by the National Electrification Administration (NEA). The three provinces were in the path of Typhoon Vinta, which left the Philippine area of responsibility early this week.
In the Cagayan II Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO II) franchise area, power has been restored in all 12 municipalities it serves. For Cagayan I Electric Cooperative's franchise area, however, the municipalities of Abulug, Ballesteros, Buguey, Calayan, Claveria, Gattaran, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Sta. Ana, Sta. Praxedes, and Sta. Teresita, and parts of Appari and Gonzaga remain without power.
Moreover, the towns of Flora, Luna, Pudtol and Santa Marcela in Apayao province, which CAGELCO II also serves, still have no electricity.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines reported that it has completed the repair of the Magapit-Sta. Teresita-Sta. Ana 69-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line segment as of 6:00 p.m. yesterday. It also restored the Tuguegarao-Magapit-Camalaniugan 69-kV line segment as early as the evening of November 4.
"Total power restoration of municipalities and barangays affected by the recent Typhoon Vinta is expected in two to three weeks’ time," the DOE said.
Of the areas affected by Typhoon Santi, on the other hand, a total of 20 barangays in Nueva Ecija still don't enjoy electricity 24/7 because of "accessibility concerns."
"Power restoration on household level of barangays under Nueva Ecija I Electric Cooperative franchise area is targeted for completion on November 19, while [Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative - Area 2] by tomorrow," the DOE said.
As to the quake-hit Bohol, 94 percent of households has been energized.
"[The] remaining unenergized households still have to undergo further inspections for damages before receiving power," the department said.
The country is bracing for Typhoon Yolanda, which the weather bureau said is far stronger than those that entered the Philippine area of responsibility in the past two months.
source: interaksyon.com