Power supply still out in large part of Tacloban

MANILA, Philippines - Two months after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) battered parts of Eastern Visayas, power supply in a large part of Tacloban City has yet to be restored.

In its latest situational report, the National Disaster Risk Reducation and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that only 56 out of the 138 barangays or 1,243 houses in Tacloban have electric power. The number translates to a measly 3.4 percent.

The NDRRMC cited that the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines' report last November 22, which says almost 2,000 transmission facilities were damaged by the powerful typhoon including backbone transmission lines, steel poles and converter station.

The state disaster response agency, however, said that power supply has already been restored in Ormoc City, Leyte and in the municipalities of Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy in Iloilo province.

The operation of the Tacloban airport remained limited, the NDRRMC added.

The NDRRMC also reported that water supply in Leyte has been restored since November 15 last year.

The total cost of damage in infrastructure and agriculture due to the calamity remained at P36.6 billion.