Damages to power facilities brought by Typhoon Odette, specifically to distribution utilities (DUs) and electric cooperatives (ECs) in Visayas and Mindanao, currently stand at an estimated Php2.44 billion.
On a per-island group basis, Bohol sustained the largest damage estimated at Php907.83 million, based on reported figures by the Department of Energy (DOE) in its news briefing on Monday. More than half or around half of the said amount are from the franchise area of the Bohol II Electric Cooperative (BOHECO II), which had Php545.5 million in damages. BOHECO II covers Pres. Carlos P. Garcia town, where Odette made a landfall.
Following Bohol is Mindanao, including Siargao and Dinagat islands, which obtained Php678.32 million in damages. The Surigao Del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO), which covers mainland Surigao Del Norte, sustained the largest destruction among Mindanao power distributors with Php433.8 million.
Cebu follows with Php395.25 million, with the Mactan Electric Company accounting for over half of it or around Php210 million. The overall damage value for Cebu is expected to rise as the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) is still undergoing assessment. Aboitiz-owned VECO is the country’s second largest DU.
Negros obtained Php177.18 million in damages, with the Negros Oriental I Electric Cooperative (NORECO I) accounting for Php118.74 million or 67% of the assessed destruction in the island. La Libertad town, where Odette also made landfall, is part of NORECO I’s franchise area.
Leyte registered Php145.8 million, but this doesn’t cover yet damages to the Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO), which is also still undergoing assessment. The DOE reported that SOLECO is expecting to fully restore its services in mid-February.
The Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO), meanwhile, sustained Php132.33 million in damages. PALECO covers mainland Palawan and the province’s outlying island towns in the Sulu Sea.
Photo from SURNECO Sub-Area Office Bad-as Facebook page.