Agency restores power facilities damaged by storm 'Cosme'

MANILA, Philippines - A state-led agency which manages electricity transmission facilities has restored power to all customers on Wednesday after it repaired stations damaged by tropical storm Cosme. After energizing the 230-kV Botolan-Labrador line on Sunday, May 25, and three other 69-kV lines the next day, the National Transmission Co. (Transco) was also able to bring online the Binmaley 2-San Carlos 69-kV line in Pangasinan. In a statement, Transco said that repairs have been “significantly hampered" because a number of towers “were located in muddy agricultural areas." During the previous weekend, Cosme’s strong winds pounded northern Luzon provinces—notably Pangasinan, La Union, Zambales, and Bataan—toppling three TransCo steel towers. “Cosme" also toppled or broke over 120 TransCo wood poles and damaging 127 more. TransCo North Luzon Operation and Maintenance Asst. VP Fernando Abesamis said line repair crews worked double time to expedite the repair and re-energization of lines and substations in the affected areas. Linemen from other TransCo district offices in North Luzon also helped the repair teams in affected areas, particularly in Pangasinan, to hasten the restoration process. Abesamis added they are now assisting power distribution utilities expedite the restoration of power in households, quite a number of which still has no electricity. - GMANews.TV