By Kris Crismundo/PNA
MANILA — About 87 percent or more than 700,000 households now have access to electricity again, after distribution utilities have restored power to areas hard-hit by Tropical Depression “Usman”, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Thursday.
In a press briefing, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella reported that around 800,000 households experienced power outages due to “Usman”.
Fuentebella said that these households are mostly in the areas of Bicol, Central, Western, and Eastern Visayas regions and northern parts of Mindanao.
He mentioned that 3,826 barangays were affected, of which 71 percent or 2,711 now have access to electricity. Some 121 municipalities lost access to energy during the onslaught of the tropical cyclone, but power has been restored in 78 percent or 94 municipalities, to date.
The DOE official added that 41 electric utilities were affected by the weather disturbance, but it failed to shut down any power plants in the “Usman”-stricken areas.
“We are now concentrating in areas that had landslides, particularly in Barangay Patitinan in Camarines Sur,” Fuentebella said in Filipino, noting that DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi directed to ensure that power is available for the rescue and retrieval operations.
Fuentebella said that with the better weather condition now, power restoration will be faster.
He said DOE officials will be accompanying President Rodrigo Duterte to visit “Usman”-stricken areas Friday.
“We are anticipating that the President will go to the affected area by tomorrow,” he said.
He added that the DOE will also be reporting these developments to the Cabinet meeting on Friday.
