NGCP repairs 86% of Odette-hit hubs

BY LENIE LECTURA – DECEMBER 28, 2021
from Business Mirror

THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) announced it has restored 86 percent of transmission facilities that were damaged by Typhoon Odette.

In its latest report released Tuesday, the grid operator said the Mabinay-Bayawan 69-kiloVolt (kV) line, serving parts of Negros Oriental 1 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Noreco I) located at Tadlong, Mabinay, Negros Oriental, and Noreco II (Banaba, Bayawan and Santa Catalina sub-stations), was restored last December 27, four days ahead of its target restoration date.

It earlier reported the restoration of facilities last December 19 and December 20 in Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, parts of Leyte, Eastern Samar, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, among others.

NGCP facilities in some parts of Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, are expected to be restored on December 25 and 31.

In Mindanao, the NGCP said there are seven 138kV lines which remain unavailable and one 138kV line ready for “energization.”

Meanwhile, House Energy Committee chair Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel M. Arroyo lauded the NGCP  for its non-stop work in restoring power to areas ravaged by the typhoon.

“I would like to commend the NGCP and their people and all those in the energy sector who have been working tirelessly even in the holiday season when everyone is supposed to be spending time with their loves ones, to restore power for the areas rendered powerless by Typhoon Odette,” Arroyo said.

It also cited power-distribution utility Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) for sending and deploying a 160-man contingent of engineers, linemen and support personnel, as well as vehicles, generator sets and heavy equipment to typhoon ravaged Cebu and Bohol.

A total of 54 Meralco personnel are already assisting in power restoration activities in Cebu; while 31 out of 106 personnel are already deployed in Bohol.

Meanwhile, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) reported that the total cost of damage amounted to P1.86 billion.

“There had been significant progress in overcoming these damages. Out of 937 municipalities, the electricity of 683 [has] been fully restored, with 87 municipalities having partially been restored,” the NEA said.