The Department of Energy (DOE), through the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER), reported that the country’s overall energy supply remains stable even as transmission and distribution facilities continue to recover from the damage caused by Typhoon Tino.

In a press conference on November 5, DOE officials said that no major power generation or fuel supply disruptions have been recorded. The main challenges involve damaged transmission and distribution lines affecting electricity access in several provinces across the Visayas, Bicol, and parts of Mindanao.

As of 10:00 a.m., around 1.4 million electricity consumers across nine regions remain affected, representing an estimated six to seven million people. DOE said restoration efforts are ongoing, with the majority of services expected to resume within the week once floodwaters subside and weather conditions improve.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that of 55 transmission lines affected by the typhoon, 43 have been fully restored and 12 partially energized. All 350-kilovolt lines are back online, along with most 230-kV, 138-kV, and 69-kV circuits. Restoration efforts are concentrated in Leyte, Panay, Negros, and Cebu, where localized flooding continues to limit access to work sites. NGCP deployed more than 500 linemen and several air and ground assets for emergency repairs.

The National Power Corporation (NPC) said that most Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) plants have resumed operations. Of approximately 57 off-grid plants, 11 have been reconnected, supplying power to about 18,000 households, while others await line clearance from local distribution utilities.

Meanwhile, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) reported that 44 electric cooperatives in 26 provinces were affected, of which 13 have normal operations, 27 are under partial interruption, and 3 remain without power. A total of 1.28 million consumer connections are still for restoration, with initial damage to electric cooperative assets estimated at PHP 2.8 million. Regions most affected include Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Central Visayas.

Distribution utilities in the Visayas have begun partial restoration. Visayan Electric Co. reported that 43 percent of customers in Metro Cebu are energized, while Mactan Electric has restored all main feeders. Bohol Light is operating normally, Negros Electric and Power Corp. has energized 13 percent of households, and MORE Power in Iloilo has fully restored its main feeders.

The DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) confirmed that the fuel supply remains sufficient across the affected regions. About 99 percent of monitored fuel facilities in the Visayas are operational, with only a few temporary shutdowns in Iloilo and Cebu. There were no fuel shortages reported, and sufficient petroleum and LPG reserves are available.

DOE also prioritized the energization of hospitals, command centers, and communication facilities. The Visayas Field Office coordinated with the Department of Health (DOH) to restore electricity to several key hospitals, including Cebu South Medical Center and Candijay Community Hospital.

Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said that all agencies under the Task Force on Energy Resiliency remain on 24-hour coordination through the National Interagency Coordinating Committee to address requests from local governments and critical sectors. He added that the DOE continues to deploy linemen, materials, and generators to heavily affected areas, emphasizing that safety checks must be completed before power restoration.

The DOE assured the public that energy supply remains stable nationwide and that power restoration work is ongoing with support from NGCP, NEA, NPC, private distribution utilities, and local governments.

How can the Philippines strengthen energy resiliency programs to better prepare the power sector for stronger and more frequent typhoons?

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