Typhoon Ompong damage to power sector hits P138 million

MANILA, Philippines — The estimated cost of damage to the power sector due to Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) hit P138 million even as electricity has been restored to over half of the affected households in typhoon-hit areas.

A price freeze on cooking gas and kerosene has also been enforced in seven affected provinces, and the Department of Energy (DOE) is urging oil companies to suspend the oil price hike for this week in those areas.

A state of calamity was declared in the provinces of Mayoyao, Ifugao on Sept. 15; Cagayan, Abra, Benguet, Kalinga on Sept. 16; and Ilocos Norte and Isabela yesterday.

The DOE reminded oil companies that a price freeze for household liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene products is now being implemented in these provinces. The price freeze will be enforced for 15 days from announcement.

The DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) – as directed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi – also called on oil companies to suspend this week’s implementation of oil price adjustments in areas declared under a state of calamity.

“We are once again appealing to your social and moral responsibilities on withholding the implementation of oil price adjustments in the calamity-stricken areas,” the OIMB told the oil companies.

So far, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. has confirmed that in addition to the price freeze covering kerosene and household LPG, there will be no price movement for gasoline and automotive diesel oil products in their retail outlets located in the typhoon-affected areas.

The Task Force on Energy Resiliency led by the DOE reported that 54 percent of the affected households in Ompong-hit areas already have electricity.

Of the 2,253,230 affected households, a total of 1,216,727 have been energized, while 1,036,502 are still undergoing power restoration, according to latest data from the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

“We are now at 54 percent and continuously mobilizing our people to areas of concern for the speedy restoration of power, among other forms of assistance from the energy (sector),” Secretary Cusi said.

At the same time, NEA reported that partial estimated cost of damage to electric cooperatives (ECs) has reached P138.9 million as of yesterday.

Based on the report, 19 provinces were severely affected by the typhoon. These provinces are covered by 22 ECs.