Negros Oriental still without power - NORECO

The province of Negros Oriental, including Dumaguete City, continued to experience power outages after Typhoon Pablo pummeled parts of Central Visayas the past two days. The typhoon damaged the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines' (NGCP's) transmission network, said Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative Inc. (NORECO) General Manager Eunora Sameon  in a Wednesday afternoon statement. The National Grid Corporation is NORECO's  transmission service provider. Sameon said NORECO is still awaiting notice for power restoration. "Numerous poles have been broken or uprooted by the gusty winds, electric lines have been tangled and are strewn around, trees have fallen bringing down the electric lines, and broken lines are all over the place," said NORECO. "We are cautioning the public to steer clear of broken lines and fallen or leaning poles, and to desist from clearing trees/vegetation that are entangled with electric lines," it added. "Wala pang update. Last night pa raw nila inaayos," Negros Oriental Office of the Governor Executive Assistant Angelo Tiongson told GMA News Online Wednesday evening. Moving on Despite the power outages, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Negros Oriental "is now moving to the next phase, post-disaster activities," the Philippine Information Agency reported. In Dumaguete City, the 228 families or 3,794 individuals, have returned to their homes after being evacuated, Rudolfo Merced, Dumaguete City Mayor's Office Public Service Informant, told GMA News Online. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, all residents temporarily staying at 14 evacuation centers in Dumaguete City have returned home. According to Merced, 17 houses were completely destroyed while 36 were partially affected. "Actually, light materials lang kasi 'yung gamit [kaya nagiba agad]. Pero naayos na rin namin nila ito kaninang umaga," he added. "Nagtulong-tulong ang mga kapitbahay," Merced said. No serious injuries were reported during the storm, with only 14 minor injuries noted, he said. , Typhoon Pablo pummeled parts of Mindanao and Visayas on Tuesday, and made landfall in Palawan Wednesday morning. — DVM, GMA News