Power restoration proceeding slowly in Central Visayas — DoE

By Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson – December 29, 2021 | 10:05 pm
from Business World

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said power restoration is making progress in many areas hit by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai), with rehabilitation work in the Central Visayas (Region VII) lagging.

In a virtual news conference to update on repairs to power facilities and transmission lines, the DoE said service has been largely restored to the Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) and the Caraga region (Region XIII), while completion progress in Region VII was estimated at 26%.

Among private distribution utilities, Mactan Electric Co., Inc. reported 50% restoration of service. Visayas Electric Co., Inc.’s completion rate was 25.73%. As of Wednesday, Bohol Light Company, Inc. had made no progress in restoring services.

For Mactan Electric Co., the DoE estimated the restoration of 55% of line feeders, 90% of 69-kilovolt (kV) sub-transmission lines, and 60% of fallen poles.

Balamban EnerZone Corp., which services the west coast of Cebu Island, said its operations have been fully restored, while Mactan EnerZone Corp. is on standby in preparation for energization.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) also announced the restoration of the Placer-Madrid 69 kV line in Mindanao serving the Surigao provinces’ franchise areas of Surneco, Siarelco, and Surseco II.

Restored lines were reported in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

Meanwhile, transmission lines were still unrestored in the following areas: Maasin-Nasaug-San Isidro, Ubay-Alicia-Garcia, both in Leyte; Ubay-Trinidad-Carmen in Bohol; and Amlan-San Carlos on Negros Island.

The NGCP estimated that 81 of 95 transmission lines were restored. It has also fully restored all transmission lines in Mindanao.