Power restored in half of Negros Oriental

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines  – At least 60 percent of the coverage area of the Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative II (NORECO II) were restored as of Thursday afternoon after two nights and almost three days of power outage due to super-typhoon Pablo.

This capital city and other towns and cities in Negros Oriental experienced power outage since Tuesday morning after the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported failure in their transmission lines.

Also, local electric service providers NORECO I and NORECO II lost power connection due to felled trees, broken branches, electric poles, power lines and transformers as Pablo slammed the province late Tuesday.

A number of business establishments resumed operations on Wednesday after the storm passed, relying solely on power generator sets but many more were without power.

The NGCP reported that as of 5 a.m. Thursday, all of its 230-kV, 138-kV and 69-kV transmission and sub-transmission lines and substations in the Visayas have been operating under normal conditions.

NGPC’s corporate communications officer Elmer Cruz said all restoration works in the Visayas have been completed.

Normalization of the system came after the restoration of the following facilities in Negros, namely, 1) the Bacong-Dauin-Siaton 69-kV line was energized on Wednesday at 10:12 p.m., 2) Amlan-Bindoy-Guihulngan 69-kV line was energized onThursday at 4:26 p.m.

Power outages in many areas were still experienced but these were due to the local service providers still working round-the-clock to clear vegetation, erect felled or new poles and replace busted transformers.

Meanwhile, a power barge of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) servicing the island-province of Siquijor, was dragged by the storm surge from its mooring place in Lazi town and incurred some damages.

The short power utility barge (SPUB)-Visayas, which NAPOCOR deploys to areas that need additional power supply, had been deployed earlier to Siquijor from Bantayan Island in Cebu province to address the power deficit of Siquijor.

The Coast Guard said rehabilitation is now going on to determine whether it is safe to tow the power barge back and reposition it in its original mooring area. The power barge ran aground on muddy waters off Lazi and was listing on the starboard side.

Power supply has been cut off in Siquijor Island after the power barge was damaged, with the Province of Siquijor Electric Company (PROSIELCO) also working double-time to restore and ration electricity to consumers.

The Coast Guard has asked operators of the Maayo Shipping, Inc. and the NAPOCO power barge to file their respective marine protests with the Maritime Industry Authority before these vessels are allowed to resume operations.  (FREEMAN)