The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has placed electric cooperatives (ECs) on heightened alert as Severe Tropical Storm Uwan enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility—posing a new threat to regions still working to restore power after Typhoon Tino.

PAGASA announced Friday that Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) has triggered Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over several areas in the Visayas, including communities recently hit hard by Tino.

NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda directed all cooperatives, particularly those in Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, to tighten preparedness protocols while accelerating ongoing restoration work.

“We cannot afford to be complacent,” Almeda said. He added that once Visayas ECs reach around 95 to 97 percent restoration in their coverage areas, they are expected to deploy crews and equipment to assist cooperatives forecast to take a direct hit from Uwan.

Almeda stressed the sector’s responsibility to avoid leaving typhoon survivors in extended outages, noting that communities recovering from Tino “cannot afford to live in prolonged periods of darkness.”

Forecasters earlier warned that Uwan could strengthen into a super typhoon, bringing extreme winds and heavy rainfall—conditions that could again strain local grids and extend restoration timelines.

NEA said it is reinforcing its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management measures by readying Quick Response Teams, tools, and materials to minimize service disruptions and support faster recovery.

The agency is coordinating with the Department of Energy, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, and local governments to synchronize preparations and ensure public safety.

Almeda also reminded the public to remain vigilant and promptly report damaged lines or electrical hazards to their utilities. “Our foremost priority is the safety of our lineworkers and the public,” he said. “The NEA and the electric cooperatives stand ready to confront this new challenge with unity, vigilance, and service to our member-consumer-owners.”

What’s your take? How should the energy sector strengthen power resilience as back-to-back storms become more frequent.

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