MANILA – Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi reported that a total of PHP2.8 billion of energy infrastructures were damaged due to Super Typhoon Rolly.
In President Rodrigo Duterte’s meeting with his Cabinet members Monday evening, Cusi said most of the damaged infrastructures in the energy sector were electric posts and transmission lines.
Power supply in the entire Bicol region went down since the weekend during the onslaught of “Rolly”.
Cusi said that as of 6 p.m. Monday, two transmission lines were connected to partially energize Naga City in Camarines Sur.
“There were two transmission lines, the transmission lines from Tayabas to Naga and from Naga to Concepcion, have been restored and this will partly energize the Naga area,” he said.
The energy chief added some 19,000 customers were still out of electricity as of 6 p.m. Monday from over 53,000 affected customers this morning.
Of the 45 distribution lines that were affected due to the typhoon, 25 are already in normal operation, Cusi said.
“The people on the field are working 24 hours and hopefully this week, (electricity) will be restored soon,” he said.
Cusi, who is also the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Mimaropa (Region 4-B), added that Typhoon Quinta-hit areas were also affected by Rolly.
He added power supply in areas affected by Quinta is supposed to be restored this week, but this will be further delayed due to “Rolly”.