NEA: Rolly’s damage to power distribution facilities at P327.9M

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) on Friday said the initial cost of damage to power distribution infrastructure due to Super Typhoon Rolly has reached P327.909 million.

The NEA said a bulk of the said amount was sustained by the electric cooperatives (ECs) in the hard-hit Bicol Region.

The electrification agency said the hardest hit was the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO), which incurred P133.055 million worth of damage.

It was followed by the Camarines Sur III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CASURECO III), incurring damage worth P82.300 million; Camarines Sur IV Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CASURECO IV) at P39.378 million; and Quezon I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO I) at P36.539 million.

Meanwhile, the Camarines Sur II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CASURECO II) sustained P24.617 million in damage; Camarines Sur I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CASURECO I), P5.292 million; Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CANORECO), P2.349 million; Ticao Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TISELCO), P1.700 million; Marinduque Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MARELCO), P1.662 million; Romblon Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ROMELCO), P613,540; and Quezon II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO II), P403,000 worth of damage.

On the other hand, the NEA said electricity has been restored to 1,144,818 households, which account for 54.73% of the 2,091,796 consumers affected by the typhoon in Bicol Region and parts of CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Eastern Visayas.

“Electric co-ops, with the help of the 'Power Restoration Rapid Deployment’ Task Force Kapatid, continue working to restore electricity to about 946,978 affected households, majority are in Bicol provinces (Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon). Power has been fully restored in Masbate,” it said.

In CALABARZON Region, QUEZELCO II and the First Laguna Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FLECO) have also completed the restoration activities in their respective coverage areas; while QUEZELCO I has reconnected 44.42% of affected consumers.

Efforts to restore electricity service in parts of Batangas are almost complete.

“Restoration levels now stand at 99.60% in the coverage area of the Batangas I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC I); and 99.42% in the franchise area of the Batangas II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC II),” the NEA said.

In MIMAROPA Region, ROMELCO achieved 99.70% restoration; and MARELCO is 50.19% energized.

In Eastern Visayas, the Samar II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SAMELCO II) attained 100% restoration; while the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORSAMELCO) restored electricity to 99.92% of consumers. — RSJ, GMA News