Albay electric power now 85% restored

By Cet Dematera

LEGAZPI CITY --- Residents of some 612 villages in Albay province or 85 percent of the 720 barangays that were plunged into total darkness by Typhoons “Rolly” and “Ulysses” are now enjoying electric power in time for Christmas and New Year revelries.

In its latest report, the Albay Power and Energy Corporation (APEC) said that 99.09 percent of the barangays in the towns and city in the province’s 2nd District was already energized; 94.93 percent in the 3rd District; and, 53.03 percent in the 1st District, the area hardest hit by “Rolly” and “Ulysses.”

Lesley Capus, APEC spokesperson, said that they expect to fully energize the province this January, should their ordered restoration materials, including transformers, arrive as scheduled.

“We know the sentiment of those households that remain to be without electricity. Whether they would believe us or not, but we are really doing everything to fast-tract the restoration of power in Albay. But some areas are really badly battered by the two typhoons that hit Albay,” Capus said.

Several areas that remain without electricity are located in Albay’s 1st District particularly Tiwi and Malinao, where the eye of super Typhoon “Rolly” barrelled through on Nov. 1.

A report sent by APEC to the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said Albay household connections were already 89.62 percent restored, or 155,943 out of 197,878 connections, as of Dec. 22.

Restoration of Albay power was speeded up after several electric cooperatives from Visayas, Mindanao and MERALCO sent teams to APEC to help in the restorations works, Capus said.