Manila: The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced late Friday that nine out of ten transmission lines affected by Severe Tropical Storm Opong, internationally known as Bualoi, have been successfully restored. Only the Calbayog-Allen 69kV Line remains unavailable.

According to Philippines News Agency, the NGCP issued a 9 p.m. advisory detailing the restored transmission lines, which include critical connections such as the Paranas-Quinapondan Line for Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative Inc. and the Calbayog-Bliss Line serving Samar 1 Electric Cooperative. Other restored lines include those servicing Aklan, Antique, Batangas, Negros Oriental, and Quezon cooperatives.

Despite the progress, the Calbayog-Allen 69kV Line, which provides electricity to Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. and SAMELCO I, is still down. NGCP continues to inspect and assess the damage caused by the storm, with restoration activities underway in accessible areas.

The grid operator noted that power loss could stem from either NGCP's transmission facilities or the local distribution utilities' infrastructure. It emphasized that specific areas affected by power outages are identified by the respective Distribution Utilities unless the outage impacts an entire franchise area.

Severe Tropical Storm Opong was last recorded approximately 215 km west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, moving at a speed of 30 km per hour. The storm, with sustained winds of 110 kph and gusts reaching up to 135 kph, is predicted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning or afternoon, as per the weather bureau PAGASA's 8 p.m. update.