Lawin-hit areas to have power in 2 weeks

TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – Power in Lawin-devastated areas in Isabela and Cagayan will be restored in two weeks with the help of rural electric cooperatives in Central Luzon, an official said yesterday.

Reynaldo Villanueva, president of the Central Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association (CLECA), said Task Force Kapatid (TFK) – which is composed of power cooperatives – is expected to wrap up work in 12 days.

Villanueva, who is also the board president of the Nueva Ecija Electric Cooperative 2, and Neeco 2 Area 1 general manager Nelson dela Cruz led the send-off ceremony for the TFK on Oct. 26.

The fleet consisted of power cooperatives from Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, backed by 20 vehicles and boom trucks and 98 linemen.

CLECA provided allowances for the linemen who would be staying in their mission areas.

The deployment of rural electric cooperatives in typhoon-hit regions will help fast-track the repair of power lines.

“If we do not help areas that have been suffering from blackouts due to calamities, it would be hard to have power restored immediately. We have to engage in bayanihan,” Villanueva said.