Electricity remains out in all 21 municipalities of Masbate after Severe Tropical Storm ‘Opong’ pummeled the province, with authorities racing to restore power lines toppled by strong winds and heavy rains, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Friday.
OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said the entire province, including Masbate mainland, Ticao Island, and Burias Island, suffered massive power outages after the storm downed transmission lines and utility poles.
The province’s two main distributors, Masbate Electric Cooperative (MASELCO) and Ticao Island Electric Cooperative (TISELCO), have reported widespread damage.
“Almost the entire province is without power,” Castillo said. “But in terms of communication, we are still able to reach our residents. The two major telecom companies still have signals,” he added.
While emergency generators are operating at the provincial disaster office and some communication facilities, full restoration of electricity remains uncertain.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has yet to provide a timeline, Castillo said, citing difficulties in deploying personnel and equipment due to poor weather and disrupted transport links.
Moreover, Castillo said the DOE is preparing teams for deployment to assist with restoration efforts once weather conditions improve. Additional relief supplies are also on standby, pending clearance for sea and air travel from Albay to Masbate.
“The DOE is organizing Task Force Kapatid, and teams will also be deployed to Masbate to help restore the posts and power lines,” he added. “The challenge right now is reaching the major islands while the weather remains bad.”
The government is mobilizing additional teams to clear debris and repair damaged infrastructure once conditions allow, Castillo said. He added that coordination with local electric cooperatives is ongoing to speed up the restoration process as soon as access improves.
Earlier, OCD said that the government is in full emergency mode as “Opong” continues to ravage several regions, with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordering an “all-out” mobilization of disaster response agencies and relief operations across the country.
