With over 700, 000 households still without electricity, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said power to all Typhoon Nina-hit areas will be restored today.
“We expect a full restoration by today [Jan. 4],” NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabaza said in a joint press conferences with the Department of Energy (DOE), National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Power Corp. (Napocor).
DOE spokesperson Felix Fuentebella said 761, 494 households have not been reconnected with power.
Data from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) show power has been restored to 57 percent or 1, 003, 519 households out of 1, 765, 013.
“These figures can be tricky because there are more households in the commercial areas but when you go to the far-off barangays that’s more challenging [to restore], Fuentebella said.
He said the DOE had to prioritize restoring power to commercial areas, including hospitals, government centers and banks.
Alabanza said in the same press conference that Nina damaged 672 transmission poles and 35 towers.
“We’ve already deployed 982 personnel from 52 participating energy companies and distribution utilities through the Task Force Kapatid to help restore power supply in the affected 99 municipalities and 7 cities,” the DOE said.
Typhoon Nina made landfall on December 25. Provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque and Mindoro have not had power since Christmas Day.
Other provinces affected by Nina are Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon in Bicol, and Catanduanes.