Over 76,000 households still without power in Masbate after ‘Opong’–NEA
LEGAZPI CITY—Power restoration efforts are still ongoing across Masbate, as more than 76,000 electricity consumers remain without supply following the onslaught of Typhoon “Opong” (international name: Bualoi), the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said on Wednesday.
NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda returned to the province on Tuesday to assess the progress of ongoing rehabilitation work and address bottlenecks in the restoration process.
In a meeting with Gov. Richard Kho, mayors, and members of Task Force Kapatid (TFK), Almeda was briefed on the extent of the damage and the continuing efforts to restore electricity supply in areas battered by the typhoon.
TFK reported that restoration activities have been hampered by a shortage of line hardware materials and unstable communication signals in remote communities.
Despite these challenges, the task force said aid and materials from both the public and private sectors have started to arrive, helping speed up repairs.
In a statement, the NEA said it remained committed to fully restoring electricity in Masbate as soon as possible, with coordination efforts ongoing among national agencies, local governments and electric cooperatives.
According to Masbate Electric Cooperative Inc. (Maselco), only 24 of 328 barangays, or 7.32 percent under its coverage area, had power restored as of Monday.
Warning
Maselco reiterated in a social media post that residents should not touch or attempt to fix any downed or exposed wires near their homes, warning that this may cause severe electric shock, injury, or even death.
The cooperative estimated the storm’s damage to the province’s electrical infrastructure at P390.3 million.
Meanwhile, residents of Mobo town continue to appeal for assistance following the devastation caused by Opong, which struck the province and other parts of Luzon last week.
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Mayor Raymund Doni Salvacion said around 98 percent of the town’s 50,000 residents, spread across 29 barangays, were severely affected, with many losing their homes.
“We are in the recovery stage, but we are in dire need of construction materials, particularly GI (galvanized iron) sheets, to rebuild homes,” Salvacion said.
He added that most residents are currently staying in tents serving as temporary shelters.
“Power has not yet been restored in the municipality, and rechargeable or solar lamps would be a great help for affected residents,” he said.
Relief operations continue, but Salvacion said more assistance is needed, particularly for rebuilding efforts.
