After Uwan, DOE targets full restoration of power within a month

The Department of Energy (DOE) is looking to restore energy-related utilities across the country within a month, as some 17 million individuals are still without electricity following the onslaught of tropical cyclone Uwan across Luzon and the Visayas.

Stakeholders were instructed to normalize everything within a month, according to Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.

She said electrification in critical sectors such as hospitals, evacuation centers, water distribution facilities, and command centers will be prioritized and should be completed in hours or days.

“‘Yun po ang chine-check po namin para sigurado na ‘yung basic services makakaabot sa barangay man or munisipyo (That is what we are checking to ensure that basic services reach the barangays or municipalities),” she said in a virtual briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

“Everything na kaya should be done by one month. Alam ko po medyo matagal-tagal ‘yan, pero malaki ‘yung damage (Everything that can be should be done by one month. I know it is quite long, but the damage is extensive),” she added.

The DOE estimates some 3.4 million households, or 17 million individuals, are still without power due to Uwan.

“We ask for patience from everyone. Kahit po hindi po as fast as we want (Even if it is not as fast as we want), the people in the energy family are really working fast, 24 hours a day, until matapos po ‘yung problema natin (our problems end),” Garin said.

“As you can see in the map, it’s almost like the entire Visayas and Luzon ang (are) affected, electric co-ops, I mean, and we always rely on the very reliable association of the linemen,” she added.

According to the National Electrification Administration (NEA), 39 provinces were hit, covering 9,036 barangays. A total of 60 electric cooperatives were affected, eight of which are still on a total power interruption.

Uwan affected 29 power plant units, with 901.33 megawatts still up for restoration, along with 78 off-grid facilities that were hit.

Data from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) show that a total of 108 transmission lines were also impacted, 89 of which have been restored, while full restoration is targeted to be completed by November 20.

“We have progressed very significantly, but sobrang laki po ‘yung damage na nagawa (the damage is extensive), but what we can assure the general public is that we are following the directive of the President na bilisan ang pag-restore ng electricity,” Garin said.

“That we are doing together with all the agencies, private utilities, and electric co-ops. Everybody’s 24 hours na po ‘yung ginagawa nila para lang po maka-deliver kami ng electricity sa kada bahay po (working 24 hours to deliver electricity to every house),” she added.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William “Wimpy” Fuentebella said all hands are on deck, with the NGCP now studying an island mode operation for the Bicol Region, enabling it to utilize plants in the region to deliver power to Albay even if lines from Luzon are not yet restored.

Fuentebella said he was also informed by NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda that linemen in Mindanao have volunteered to assist restoration efforts in Luzon, particularly in the hardest-hit areas.

“According to Admin Nani Almeda, they are planning to send linemen. The linemen from Mindanao electric cooperatives are volunteering to go to Luzon electric cooperatives, particularly targeting the Bicol region,” he said.

This comes as Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative and Camarines Sur Electric Cooperatives 1, 3, and 4 remain to be out.

In the same briefing, Fuentebella emphasized the importance of safety for linemen during their restoration efforts. This reminder comes after the tragic passing of a lineman on duty in Cebu City after Typhoon Tino devastated parts of the Visayas.

“These linemen are indeed sacrificing not only going away from their families, but also ‘yung ‘pag umakyat na sila sa ating mga poste, hindi siya madaling trabaho (when they go up the posts, it is not an easy job). It’s a very risky endeavor,” he said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News