Power distribution utilities confirmed some parts of Cebu are still without electricity, mostly as precautionary measure, while they survey extent in damage caused by tropical storm Seniang (international name: Jangmi).
Cebu Electric Cooperative 1 (CEBECO 1) which serves most of southern Cebu has power restored in urban areas as of 2 o’clock in the afternoon yesterday. But it also admitted they personnel are still assessing the damage in rural areas.
CEBECO 1 spokesperson Lowell Belcina said they turned off power in most of the mountain barangays within their franchise area as precautionary measure.
“We are still surveying the extent of damage in these areas and it’s a bit difficult as most roads leading there are impassable. Our personnel have to check on our lines on foot which takes more time,” he said.
Majority of the areas in the 17 towns and Carcar City under CEBECO 1 now have power especially those along the highways.
CEBECO 1 covers Carcar City and the towns of Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Oslob, Santander, Samboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal, Alcantara, Ronda, Dumanjug and Barili.
Meanwhile, Visayan Electric Company (VECO) also had secondary lines broken due to fallen trees.
“Most of the areas affected are the ones in the southern and mountain barangays of our area including Guadalupe, Busay, Pardo, Quiot and San Fernando,” said VECO reputation management manager Ma. Theresa Sederiosa.
Sederiosa said that as of 12 noon yesterday, they already got 268 calls from the customers reporting about power outages in their areas.
“We have already addressed each concern and went to their areas. 80 percent of these areas were already restored. We are now working on other parts in the south from San Fernando and Talisay City,” said Sederiosa.
Ongoing restorations are being done at Sacsac, Consolacion with a collapsed primary pole, Ayala Heights, Balungag in San Fernando with a collapsed pole and some parts of San Fernando and Naga.
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) corporate communications officer Ma. Rosette Martinez said that no NGCP lines were damaged by the storm.
Power supply in the Visayas grid is also sufficient with a surplus of 156 megawatts (MW).