Power restoration in areas affected by the recent typhoon is expected to be completed within a month, according to an official from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) on Tuesday, September 30.
Engineer Eric Campoto, officer-in-charge of the NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division, indicated that several task force members from various electric cooperatives (ECs) have already been deployed to Masbate province to assist with restoration efforts.
Campoto said that the timeframe for restoring power is estimated to be about a month, given the number of personnel working on the ground. The restoration efforts are primarily focused on Masbate, including mainland Masbate and Ticao Island, as well as parts of Samar and Sorsogon, which were among the hardest hit by Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi) last week.
He also noted that power has been restored to approximately 3,000 consumers on Ticao Island so far.
Beyond the electric cooperatives, the NEA is collaborating with several government agencies, including the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Power Corporation, the Philippine Ports Authority, the Philippine Navy, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The latter has been tasked with clearing debris, which remains a major obstacle in the restoration process.
Campoto added that generator sets have been delivered to critical facilities in Masbate, such as hospitals, to ensure their uninterrupted power supply.
Meanwhile, DOE Secretary Sharon Garin estimated the cost of repairing damaged power lines at around PHP400 million, though she did not specify the funding sources for these repairs.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.