NGCP completes power restoration

In areas affected by Paeng

MANILA, Philippines — Electricity restoration works in areas affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng have been completed, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) reported yesterday.

The NGCP said power transmission operations in Luzon returned to normal after the La Trinidad-Sagada 69-kilovolt (kV) line was restored at around 9:03 p.m. on Monday.

“Transmission services in other affected areas are now under normal operations,” the NGCP said.

The Binga-Nagsaag 230-kV line, which remains unavailable, is not connected to any power customer.

Transmission services in Benguet, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Aklan and Antique are now fully operational.

“Even while the severe tropical storm was crossing the Philippine landmass, the NGCP began assessment and restoration efforts in areas already accessible,” the NGCP said.

The power company assured the public that it is continuously monitoring weather disturbances. It said it is ready to activate its command center should there be any threat to any of its transmission facilities.

Telco services

Meanwhile, telecommunication providers are working to restore connectivity services in Paeng-hit areas.

PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. said network signals in Leyte, Samar, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Oriental Mindoro have been restored.

PLDT and Smart said they are working to restore fixed and wireless services in Bulacan, Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog, the Visayas and Mindanao.

“PLDT and Smart are working double time to ensure that our network can continue to be of service in times of disasters, thanks to our operations and network teams,” PLDT first vice president and head of corporate communications Cathy Yang said.

“Aside from this, we will begin distributing relief aid to severely affected areas, made possible by our volunteers. We have also opened more free calls and charging stations as part of our efforts on communication as aid,” she said.

Yang said PLDT and Smart are providing additional free calls and charging stations in Aurora and Marinduque.

For its part, Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. said it has restored call, text and data services in all areas in Metro Manila.

Mobile networks in Laguna, Palawan, Masbate and Samar have been fixed, it added.

Globe said restoration of affected lines in Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Palawan, Sorsogon, Bohol, Guimaras, Leyte, Negros Oriental and Siquijor is almost complete.

It said it would double its efforts in Cavite, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, Antique and Capiz, which were most affected by Paeng. – Elijah Felice Rosales