Power restored in 9 towns, one city in northern Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —  Electricity is back in nine towns and one component city in northern Cebu as of yesterday.

Power utilities have also promised Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia that more areas in the province will be energized before Christmas and New Year.

Cebu Electric Cooperative (CEBECO) II reported that they have restored the power supply in towns of Daanbantayan, Tuburan, San Remigio, Medellin, Tabogon, Sogod, Catmon, Borbon and Tabuelan and the City of Bogo.

These local government units from the north of Cebu were also hit by the Typhoon Odette but not as bad as those in the Southern Cebu. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) and CEBECO I, II, III assured that more areas in the province will be energized before Christmas and New Year.

NGCP representatives said there is enough supply but they distribution utilities have yet to restore their power lines.

“We have more than enough power, but wala pa makumpleto pabarog ang mga poste, mura’g naa pay mga 300 kapin ang VECO, ang CEBECO 1 grabe kaayo pa,” Garcia said.

CEBECO 1 franchise area covers the City of Carcar and the towns of Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan, Samboan, Santander, Oslob, Boljoon, Alcoy, Dalaguete, Argao and Sibonga.

The governor said, CEBECO 2 and 3 promised to help CEBECO 1 in restoring power to its franchise area once they are able to fix their own areas.

 Visayan Electric and CEBECO have also agreed to cut the wires from the broken poles that are blocking the roads.

 “Sugot silang putlon ang wire kay mao man nay naka hamper gud, anyway niingon man ang CEBECO I, II ug III nga dili naman na namo magamit. So akong gipangayo lang nga permission pwede mi moputol, ang kana rang nibabag kay even though ma clear na nato og mga kahoy pero naa ang poste nagbabag mura gihapon. Dili gihapon ta maka two-way,” Garcia said.

At least eight teams have been formed by the Capitol to do the clearing operations in the southwestern towns. Each team includes private contractors and power distributors. The capitol will set up their base of operation in Barangay Tinaan, City of Naga starting today.

The governor has acknowledged that there are logistical problems when it comes to post-calamity response. One of which is the problem of communication. Garcia herself experienced the communication problem when she visited southern Cebu.

 Even with a satellite phone provided by a telecommunication company, Garcia was not able to connect to her family and staff.

Garcia said that the communication problem is obstructing their relief efforts aside from creating “anxiety” to people who can’t contact their families.

"I hope and I implore and I really and really wish that our telecommunication facilities will be restored," Garcia said.

 Despite what happened to Cebu after the typhoon, Garcia commended the Cebuanos for showing “great fortitude and strength in spite of this horrendous challenge”.

“I know that many of them are living in darkness and misery, many are hungry and yet we continue to abide by the dictates of courtesy even human kindness, sharing, you see houses with generator they are sharing their water, allowing charging stations," Garcia said.

 She assured Cebuanos that Cebu will rise again from the devastation of Odette.

"In spite of the many logistical problems that we are encountering…They continue to believe that things will be better and I assure my brother and sister Cebuanos, things will be better. I will not stop until we will rise up again," Garcia said. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, FPL (FREEMAN)