00:00Energy Secretary Sharon Garin assured that power supply should be back to normal within a month despite the widespread devastation.
00:08As the Department of Energy works around the clock, officials are determined to keep the lights on in critical areas focusing on hospitals, evacuation centers, and essential services.
00:19Our Rod Lagusan tells us more.
00:21The power supply should return to normal within a month, particularly important in areas severely affected by Tropical Cyclone 1.
00:31According to Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, this was a directive from the Department to Electric Cooperatives, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, and other agencies.
00:40She said that in Masbate, it took down 22 days to restore power supply after the onslaught of Tropical Cyclone Opong.
00:58According to the Secretary, the priority is to restore electricity in hospitals, evacuation centers, water districts, command centers, or municipal halls to ensure the delivery of basic services.
01:09Based on DOE data, 29 power plants were affected, of which only 9 are still for restoration with a combined capacity of over 900 megawatts.
01:18Meanwhile, out of 108 transmission lines affected, the NGCP said only 25 remain under repair.
01:24Regarding electric cooperatives, the National Electrification Administration reported that 60 electric cooperatives were affected,
01:31of which 8 are experiencing total power interruption in parts of Beagle Region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region.
01:39The provinces most affected are Mountain Province, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.
01:44Almost 3.4 million households remain without electricity.
01:47What I ask, actually, is to have patience.
01:56We are really working hard.
01:59Since lumabas na yung bagyo, even before that, hindi pa nakakalabas ang uwan,
02:06nag-umpisa na po yung trabaho.
02:08And we have progressed very significantly, but sobrang laki po yung damage na nagawa.
02:14Garin assured that they are following the directive of the President to speed up the restoration of power supply.
02:20Admin Nani Almeda informed us that linemen from the electric cooperatives of Mindanao are planning to be deployed to go to Luzon.
02:33They are coordinating closely kung saang barge sila sasakay,
02:39kasama na yung kanilang mga equipment at mga truck para tumugon sa mga pangangailangan.
02:49The target of these efforts is the severely affected Beagle Region.
02:53He added that NGCP is considering implementing an island mode operation,
02:57where operations continue even if not connected to the Luzon grid.
03:01Coordination with the NDRMC continues to address damaged roads and bridges to ensure access for line repair crews.
03:07Rod Laguzad from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
