Odette death toll hits 397; P2 billion power sector damage

MANILA, Philippines — The number of fatalities due to Typhoon Odette climbed to 397 yesterday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The NDRRMC said 83 of the deaths have been confirmed.

Up to 83 persons remain missing and 1,147 others were injured.

As of yesterday, 1,201 evacuation centers in the Visayas and Mindanao are providing temporary shelter to 305,229 people or 75,731 families.

The NDRRMC said damage to agriculture including crops, livestock, fisheries and agricultural infrastructure was estimated at  P5.5 billion.

Latest data show that damage to infrastructure in Mimaropa, Caraga, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen ballooned to P12.8 billion.

Meanwhile, damage to the power sector breached P2 billion, the bulk of which was incurred by the distribution utilities.

In a virtual briefing yesterday, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said the amount was reported by 30 of the 74 electric cooperatives affected by the typhoon.

The NEA said power has been restored in 75.13 percent of the 937 affected municipalities.

In terms of household connections, power has been restored in 55.73 percent of 4.16 million houses.

Among private distribution utilities, Mactan Electric Company Inc. said it recorded an estimated damage of P210 million while Bohol Light Company Inc. incurred losses amounting to P18.2 million.

The Visayan Electric Company Inc. has yet to submit its damage report.

The electric cooperatives are eyeing full restoration of power in their respective franchise areas by Jan. 31 next year.

On the generation side, the National Power Corp. said the initial cost of damage amounted to P32 million.

National Grid Corp. of the Philippines engineering project management head Randy Galang said the NGCP was  given one year to give its report to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

At the same briefing, Department of Energy (DOE)-Electric Power Industry Management Bureau director Mario Marasigan said power is expected to be partially restored in Bohol today.

“The DOE and the ERC have issued permits for the island operations. As NGCP said, sub-transmission lines are available and Power Barge 104 is ready to dispatch,” he said.

Challenges in power restoration

However, Marasigan said weather conditions and communication issues are slowing down restoration works in affected areas.

“We have challenging areas in transmission and distribution sectors. As per NEA, the challenge is in direct communication with Negros. In Bohol, restoration works are hampered by current weather conditions,” he said.

For NGCP, Galang said the challenging areas are in Leyte and in Bohol.

The challenges are intermittent communication signal, which makes it difficult for the restoration team. Accessibility and fuel, as well as weather condition are other challenges we are facing,” he said.

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