THE Department of Energy (DOE) said on Friday night restoration of damaged power facilities in Northern Luzon is under way as Typhoon Lawin left the country.
“Restoration of power facilities is under way to bring back electricity service in the typhoon-hit areas in Northern Luzon. Public safety is the primary consideration when it comes to rehabilitation, so we have to first check and assess the effect of the typhoon to these facilities,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. said.
As of 7 p.m. on October 20, electric cooperatives (ECs) have partially or totally restored electricity service in 31 towns out of the 248 affected, or 12.5 percent of the typhoon-affected areas.
The typhoon-affected areas are covered by 14 ECs including the Cagayan I and II ECs, Isabela I and II ECs, Nueva Vizcaya EC, Quirino EC, Abra EC, Benguet EC, Mountain Province EC, Ifugao EC, Kalinga EC, Ilocos Norte EC, Ilocos Sur EC and La Union EC.
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) was tasked to monitor and assess the status of ECs for rehabilitation.
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), meanwhile, reported the progress of the rehabilitation work on the transmission lines servicing the provinces of La Union, Kalinga, Apayao, Isabela, Cagayan, Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.
The lines restored are Gamu-Tuguegarao 230-kilovolt line, Bauang-San Fernando 69-kV line, Santiago-Aglipay 69-kV line, Bayombong-Lagawe 69-kV line, La Trinidad-Sablan 69-kV line, Bauang-Naguilian 69-kV line, La Trinidad-Ampucao 69-kV line, Bacnotan-Bulala 69-kV lin, Bantay-Santo Domingo
69-kV line, San Esteban-Bangued 69-kV line, San Esteban-Candon 69-kV line and Santiago-Alicia-Cabatuan-Alfonsolista 69-kV line.
The following lines, meanwhile, have yet to be restored as of Saturday: Currimao-Langayan 69-kV line, Currimao-San Nicolas 69-kV line, and Cauayan-Reina Mercedes 69-kV line.
Cusi directed concerned energy agencies to execute full and immediate restoration of power facilities damaged by the typhoon.
“I am also urging our kababayan to coordinate with their local officials and authorities on any incidents affecting these facilities and for their families to take extra caution in using their electrical equipment,” Cusi added.