Manila: The focus of measures put in place against the impact of Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) is aimed at limiting impacts on power consumers and the efficient restoration once electricity is cut, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Monday. DOE Undersecretary and Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) Chair Felix Willam, in a statement, said DOE activated the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) and the National Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell at 8 a.m. Monday, as Tino moves across from northeastern Mindanao and Visayas to Southern Luzon. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of the communities we serve,” he said.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DOE is closely coordinating with power generators, the transmission provider, distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and fuel suppliers “to prepare for the impact of the storm and to ensure efficient restoration efforts immediately after.” In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the weather bureau said the center of Tino was last estimated at around 170 km east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and is moving westward at 20 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 was hoisted over the extreme southeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan), the southern portion of Leyte (Mahaplag, Abuyog, City of Baybay, Inopacan, Hilongos, Hindang, Bato, Matalom, Javier), Southern Leyte, Camotes Islands, and the northeastern portion of Bohol (Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Getafe, Trinidad, Ubay, Bien Unido, Talibon) in the Visayas; and the Dinagat Islands, and Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands in Mindanao. Since Monday morning, DOE said the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has “secured communication lines, repair materials, and has prepositioned line crews in strategic locations.”
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) “has advised electric cooperatives to implement contingency and readiness measures, including proactive clearing operations to remove possible obstructions from power lines.” DOE said “the National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG) has also placed several Diesel Power Plants in Bohol on standby, following precautionary evacuations initiated by their respective Local Government Units (LGUs).” Fuel supply chains are also being monitored, especially for emergency services and critical facilities, it said.
“We remain committed to minimizing disruptions and supporting communities in recovering swiftly,” Fuentebella said. The DOE official, however, pointed out the need for households to also prepare by ensuring they have emergency kits with flashlights, batteries, drinking water, and non-perishable food, as well as charged mobile phones and accessible important contact numbers.
Meanwhile, NGCP, in its 5 p.m. bulletin, said the Opol-Cagayan De Oro 69kV Line 1, which services the Misamis Oriental-1 Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. (MORESCO-1), and Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company Inc. (CEPALCO), is unavailable since 12:51 p.m. Monday. “Inspection and restoration of lines in the affected areas will be in full swing once the weather allows,” it said, noting that “loss of power may be caused by affected transmission facilities of NGCP or distribution facilities of local distribution utilities or electric cooperatives.” “Specific cities and municipalities affected by the power interruptions are determined by concerned Distribution Utilities, unless the outage affects the entire franchise area,” it added.
