Mindanao: Line workers from unaffected electric cooperatives have remained in quake-hit areas to help assess damage and restore power transmission services following Monday morning's 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southern Mindanao.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Energy (DOE), along with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Task Force Kapatid (sibling), has mobilized a program that taps distribution utility personnel to help in power restoration works in areas affected by calamities. Citing initial reports, the DOE said around 864,000 households in areas serviced by the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II), South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative, Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Davao Light and Power Company, Cotabato Light and Power Company, and several other areas were affected by power outages after the earthquake that hit Sarangani province.
'Damage assessments and system inspections remain ongoing as electric cooperatives and distribution utilities continue field operations to determine the extent of the impact and facilitate the safe restoration of electricity services,' it said in a statement. The DOE has directed the immediate restoration of electricity service in critical infrastructure such as hospitals and evacuation centers, and is in contact with other stakeholders 'to monitor the readiness of backup power systems and help ensure the uninterrupted operation of these facilities while assessment and restoration activities are ongoing.'
'The safety of our communities and our energy workers remains our foremost priority. Our teams are on the ground working closely with electric cooperatives, critical sectors, and other energy sector stakeholders to assess conditions and restore electricity services safely, responsibly, and at the soonest possible time,' Energy Secretary Sharon Garin stated.
In an advisory as of 2:30 p.m., the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines reported that power transmission services in South Cotabato had been partially restored as of 10:22 a.m., and in Sarangani as of 1:23 p.m. Transmission services in Maguindanao, Northern Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat were restored at around 10:33 a.m., while those in Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental were fully restored at around 8:20 a.m. However, transmission services in General Santos City remain unavailable.
The NEA, in a separate statement, announced that a command center has been established at SOCOTECO II in Barangay Apopong, General Santos City, to serve as the central coordination area for power and transmission line restoration in quake-hit areas. It stated that around 269 of the 308 affected municipalities remain with power connections. 'Restoration efforts are underway to safely bring electricity back to the 803,230 consumer connections impacted by the earthquake,' the agency said.
Meanwhile, Aboitiz Power Corporation reported that it continues to monitor developments on its facilities following the temporary disruption at Therma South Inc. in Davao City, with operations synced back to the Mindanao grid at around 1:07 p.m. It stated that the Therma Marine Inc. facilities in Maco, Davao de Oro, and Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, and the SPI Power Inc. in Misamis Oriental 'were unaffected' by the quake. In terms of the operations of AboitizPower's hydrofacilities in Mindanao, the firm mentioned, 'the earthquake caused a localized line tripping, but affected units were restored to normal operations following safety checks.'
There were also service disruptions, but power service has been fully restored to all affected areas under Cotabato Light as of 1:14 p.m. Field teams remain on the ground to check distribution lines and electrical facilities. For Davao Light, all major lines and substations were energized as of 2 p.m. 'While safety and operational validations are ongoing, field teams continue to coordinate closely on the ground while monitoring aftershocks and official advisories,' the statement added.
