Power in five electric cooperative (EC) franchise areas in Bohol, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao Del Norte — including Siargao Island — may not be restored in time for the new year, according to the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
Particularly affected are customers of the Bohol I and II, Dinagat Island, Surigao Del Norte, and Siargao Electric Cooperatives.
At a news conference organized by the Department of Energy on Tuesday, NEA’s Ernesto Silvano said it estimated around Php300 million in damages sustained by a total of nine ECs in Odette-affected provinces
NEA’s pronouncement comes as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that 22 of 95 transmission lines have yet to be repaired. Among the 22 lines not in service are those connecting to the Leyte-Bohol submarine connection, such as the 138-kilovolt Ormoc-Maasin line in Leyte and the Ubay-CP Garcia line in Bohol, according to NGCP Engineering Project Management Department Head Randy Galang.
The Ubay-CP Garcia line in particular has two special towers, which are higher than most other transmission towers (photo above). This is the case since these connect Ubay town on mainland Bohol and Pres. Carlos P. Garcia town on neighboring Lapinig Island, Energy Usec. Felix William Fuentebella explained.
Pres. Carlos P. Garcia was one of the towns where Odette made landfall.
Fuentebella also pointed out that restoration work could not begin in Bohol, the only province entirely without power, just yet since the equipment needed remains unavailable.
Photo from The Bohol Chronicle website.