Bicol: Many areas in Bicol still have no power due to the devastation left by Super Typhoon Uwan over the weekend, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) here said Wednesday. Interviewed on Bagong Pilipinas, OCD 5 (Bicol) Director Claudio Yucot said the region has begun early recovery efforts following the powerful cyclone, but power restoration remains their “main concern.”

According to Philippines News Agency, electricity is still unavailable in several provinces of Bicol, including Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, as well as in Albay. However, parts of Legazpi City and Daraga currently have electricity. In Sorsogon and Masbate, there is also no electricity. “Our main concern is the restoration of power across Bicol,” Yucot emphasized.

The OCD official mentioned that they have submitted a request to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for support from the Department of Energy. As for the water system in Catanduanes, the province considered hardest hit by Uwan, Yucot said restoration is expected to take “15 to 20 days.” He noted that three units of water desalination equipment are expected to arrive in the province in the coming days.

Uwan left 8,716 houses in Catanduanes damaged, of which 7,756 are “partially damaged” and 960 are “destroyed,” according to Yucot. “Regarding evacuated families, all have now returned home. At the peak, there were 100,050 families, or 361,033 individuals, in evacuation centers,” he said. “Outside these centers, DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) is still assisting 55,239 families, totaling 184,560 individuals,” he added.

With assistance from the Philippine Air Force – Tactical Operations Group in Bicol, OCD-5 said humanitarian aid is being delivered to affected residents, particularly in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.