Typhoon Rolly’s damage to power infrastructure initially estimated at P33.5 million

By Lenie Lectura -November 5, 2020
from Business Mirror

In this handout photo provided by the Philippine Red Cross, the remains of homes at a community after Typhoon Goni passes by San Andres, Catanduanes province, eastern Philippines on Monday Nov. 2, 2020. (Philippine Red Cross via AP)

The initial cost of Typhoon Rolly’s damage to power infrastructure has been placed at P33.5 million, with 2.909 million households affected, the Department of Energy (DOE) said yesterday.

The amount was reported by the National Electrification Administration (NEA)  to the DOE. The DOE said it is still waiting for updated status reports from the other members of the energy family like the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National Transmission Corporation (Transco).

DOE secretary Alfonso G. Cusi assured the public that the entire energy family is on “high alert” status and working together to restore power in the areas ravaged by  the typhoon in Bicol (Region V).

“I just want to tell you that the DOE is on full alert. Not just the DOE but the entire energy family is on really high alert,” he stressed, adding that even the resources of the different electric cooperatives from the Visayas and other industry players, through the NEA’s Task Force Kapatid, are on its way to Bicol, especially to Catanduanes, the hardest-hit area by the super typhoon.

Cusi wants power restored in these areas at the soonest possible time as the situation is further complicated by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals and other government vital installations need to function properly to serve the public, he added.

“Hindi natin pwedeng patagalin yan dahil Nobyembre na at malapit na ang Pasko, and kailangan talaga power is there. Not just because of Christmas, but because we are in a pandemic. Kailangan na kailangan ng power in our hospitals, and in our vital government installations,” Cusi pointed out.

“So talagang nasa puso naming iyan, nasa isipan namin iyan na hindi namin hihintayin ang Pasko at kailangan magkaroon na ng kuryente,” he said.

As per the latest report from Meralco, Cusi said power has been restored 100% in all its serviced areas in Cavite, Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Bulacan, and Metro Manila. He was also informed that Meralco, along with other distribution companies like Aboitiz, are now ready to send teams to the Bicol region.