The National Electrification Administration (NEA) aims to restore electricity in Leyte and Samar before Christmas, according to an official on Sunday.
Ernesto Silvano, NEA’s Total Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Department head, told DZRH that 3.1 million people are affected by power outages due to Typhoon Odette based on their initial report.
This figure could balloon as more electric cooperatives (ECs) submit their reports.
"Right now, undergoing yung ground assessment ng mga ECs kasi cino-collate namin yung reports talaga nila for families affected and total damages at yung initial report namin noong kahapon, we were still at 3.1 million affected population," he told DZRH.
(Right now, the ground assessment of ECs is undergoing because we are collating their reports on affected families and total damages. Based on initial reports from yesterday, we were still at 3.1 million affected population.)
According to Silvano, however, they are targeting to restore electricity in some provinces, particularly in Samar and Leyte, before Christmas.
"We are trying hard na this would come back in some, if not all areas, before Christmas. I am definite na merong babalik," he said.
(We are trying hard that this would come back in some, if not all areas, before Christmas. I am definite that some would come back.)
"Kasi ready to receive power na nga yung Leyte and Samar. So NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines) ang hintayin natin diyan," he said, adding: "Nag-aantay lang kami sa NGCP ng advice."
(Because we are ready to receive power in Leyte and Samar. So we are only waiting for the NGCP. We are only waiting for the NGCP’s advice.)
"The only sad news is hindi tayo nakaka-definite ng exact date yung electricity would come back."
(The only sad news is we do not have an exact date on when electricity would return.)
Silvana said they are saddened by the calamity, but called for cooperation as they are exerting efforts to restore power.
"For the customers, really, we are saddened by this. 'Yung calamity na magpa-Pasko pa naman eh just bear with us, we are trying our best naman talaga. All of the energy sectors will be doing our best to restore power before Christmas," he said.
(For the customers, really, we are saddened by this. This calamity happened ahead of Christmas and just bear with us. We are trying our best. All of the energy sectors will be doing their best to restore power before Christmas.)
