Storms cut power for 650,000 households, disrupt 87 electric co-ops —NEA
- September 26, 2025
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The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has reported that the operations of 87 electric cooperatives across the country have been disrupted following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Nando (Ragasa), Severe Tropical Storm Opong (Bulaoi), and enhanced southwest monsoon rains.
As of 9AM on September 26, 2025, outages continue to affect at least 649,808 households in 52 provinces spanning 12 regions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, according to the NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD).
To accelerate power restoration in Northern Luzon, NEA mobilized Task Force Kapatid (TFK), deploying 37 personnel from the Ilocos Region to support the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (INEC). The line crews were drawn from Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ISECO), La Union Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LUELCO), Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (CENPELCO), and Pangasinan I and III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PANELCO 1 and 3).
In the Bicol Region, electric cooperatives have also formed TFK units to assist the Masbate Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MASELCO) and the Ticao Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TISELCO) with restoration and rehabilitation work.
Power has so far been restored to 826 of the 1,042 municipalities initially affected, representing nearly 80% service recovery. ISECO and Batanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATANELCO), which earlier experienced total blackouts, have already normalized operations.
Initial estimates place the cost of damage to electrification facilities at PHP 10.1 million, covering areas under Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO), BATANELCO, Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO), Cagayan Electric Cooperative II (CAGELCO 2), Kalinga-Apayao Electric Cooperative (KAELCO), and Mountain Province Electric Cooperative (MOPRECO).
“The NEA continues to coordinate closely with the affected cooperatives, local government units, and other stakeholders to ensure the swift restoration of power and services to affected communities,” the agency said.
How do you see these recurring large-scale outages shaping priorities for grid resilience, cooperative support systems, and disaster response in the power sector?
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