The National Electrification Administration (NEA) reported Tuesday that nine Visayas-based electric cooperatives (ECs), are experiencing total power interruption due to the impact of Typhoon Tino, known internationally as ‘Kalmaegi.’
The NEA said electricity services were cut in AKELCO (Aklan), BILECO (Biliran), CEBECO 2 and 3 (Cebu), CELCO (Camotes Island), LEYECO 2, 3 and 4 (Leyte) and PROSIELCO (Siquijor), based on the updated report of its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD).
The NEA-DRRMD said it is closely monitoring 53 ECs in 32 provinces across 10 regions, particularly in the Visayas island group, where ‘Tino’ passed through several areas, bringing heavy rains and strong winds in the process.
At least 17 ECs in the affected localities remain under normal operations while 24 experienced partial outages. Other utilities have yet to submit status updates, citing connectivity issues in parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
According to NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, the affected ECs in Eastern Visayas are already working to restore power distribution services despite the challenging weather conditions, except in the franchise area of DORELCO (Don Orestes Romualdez), which is based in Tolosa, Leyte.
Almeda said some power lines were down in the DORELCO franchise area that would require assistance.
The NEA chief also reported that ECs in Dinagat Islands and Siargao in the Caraga Administrative Region likewise struggled with total power loss on Monday night, but its situation has improved as of Tuesday morning after the storm passed in those areas.
Based on the report of APEC party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc, also the general manager of Siargao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SIARELCO), power restoration efforts and line inspection are already underway subject to safety protocols.
“We are now monitoring (the situation) in Cebu and, hopefully, it will not greatly affect the path going to Palawan,” Almeda said, noting that exact figures from the field would be known by the end of the day when all status reports from the affected ECs come in.
Based on additional reports evaluated by the NEA-DRRMD, 517 out of 636 municipalities or 82.29 percent in the service areas of electric cooperatives have been re-energized. Power restoration is ongoing for at least 1,835,161 customers.
“The respective cooperatives have assured me that they can handle the restoration process. Actually, last night, I just called their attention to make sure that critical services like hospitals do have generators,” Almeda said.
The NEA chief said he has authorized the ECs to help the affected public hospitals purchase fuel for their generators. He also said they expect the cost of damage to electric facilities to rise, considering the scale of Typhoon Tino.
Almeda likewise appealed for patience among residents in the affected communities.
“There is a safety protocol that has to be followed. Line inspection has to be done before electricity can be restored in the substations. So, just a little patience and I hope we are all safe,” he said.
