The Department of Energy (DOE) has mounted an all-out response to restore power in Masbate, where communities remain in blackout following the devastation of Super Typhoon Opong.

Acting on the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DOE said reinforcements have been mobilized to support the Masbate Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MASELCO), which remains under total power interruption. A 13-member team from the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) arrived on Sunday to assist, with nine more teams from Region V joining the restoration drive. Additional teams are being dispatched to Ticao Island to back up the Tablas Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TIELCO).

The DOE also confirmed that 40 Task Force Kapatid (TFK) teams from Regions III, V, IV-A, VI, and VII are en route to Masbate with assistance from the Philippine Navy, while the Philippine Ports Authority has prioritized their deployment through Cebu’s Pio Duran and Pilar ports. To bolster efforts, the National Power Corporation (NPC) has staged nine portable generator sets at the Mobo Substation for deployment to critical facilities, with hospitals in Masbate already running on their own units.

Fuel supply has been secured, with Filoil’s depot in Mobo and Shell’s depot in Masbate City both operational and regularly replenished. Out of 27 gasoline stations in the province, 13 are functioning to support restoration teams and essential services.

“Every resource and partner are now on the ground or on the move for Masbate. The full force of the energy sector is united to restore electricity swiftly, protect lifeline facilities, and bring relief to every community affected by the storm,” said Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin.

The DOE noted that Masbate’s situation comes as part of broader nationwide efforts to repair damage caused by the recent storm. As of September 27, 32 electric cooperatives across 27 provinces were still being monitored, with most experiencing partial interruptions and two—including MASELCO—under total outage. Power plants such as BACMAN and Palayan Binary had been restored, while transmission services in Luzon and Visayas were back to normal. National fuel supply remained stable, with bulk depots and LPG refilling plants resuming operations.

Despite these gains, the DOE said Masbate remains a priority, with every team, vehicle, generator, and liter of fuel being deployed to bring the province back on its feet.

What more do you think should be done to strengthen island-grid provinces like Masbate against future storms and large-scale power disruptions?

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