The Department of Energy (DOE) has called on power and fuel industry stakeholders to strengthen their infrastructure and supply chains as Tropical Depression Opong is expected to intensify into a typhoon within the next two days.

Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella, who chairs the Task Force on Energy Resiliency, urged companies to take proactive measures in high-risk areas. 

“The most important thing is to reinforce power lines in high-risk areas, enabling them to better withstand the impact of storms and minimize service disruptions. Fuel supply must also be secured, drawing from our experience from Tropical Cyclone Kristine last year wherein the consistent heavy rainfall resulted in severe flooding and affected the fuel supply chain in Bicol,” he said.

Fuentebella emphasized that upgrades to transmission and distribution lines should consider wind speeds of up to 280 kilometers per hour. He also underscored the need to map both primary and alternate transport routes to ensure fuel delivery remains uninterrupted even in cases of flooding.

The DOE said it is closely monitoring ongoing restoration efforts from Super Typhoon Nando, where partial service interruptions persist in 13 areas served by electric cooperatives across Northern and Central Luzon, including La Union, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Abra, Cagayan, Batanes, Zambales, and Batangas.

In off-grid areas, the Basco Diesel Power Plant in Batanes sustained equipment damage but is targeted for full service restoration today. Three diesel plants in Cagayan remain on standby as precautionary safety measures.

The DOE also reported that one electric vehicle charging station in San Juan, La Union remains offline, while 14 gasoline stations across Regions I, II, III, and the Cordillera Administrative Region are under watch to secure fuel availability.

“The most important thing is to reinforce power lines in high-risk areas… Such proactive measures will enhance the resilience of the country’s energy infrastructure and help protect communities from prolonged power outages and fuel supply disruptions during severe weather conditions,” Fuentebella stressed.

The DOE assured that the energy sector remains committed to restoring power and fuel services as quickly as possible while advancing long-term resiliency measures.

What do you think are the most critical gaps the Philippines needs to address in energy resiliency ahead of stronger typhoons?

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