By
Samuel P. Medenilla - December 20, 2019
The National
Electrification Administration (NEA) is asking the Department of Budget
and Management (DBM) to extend financial assistance to 27 electric
cooperatives (ECs) affected by the recent Typhoon Tisoy.
NEA Administrator
Edgardo Masongsong said damage to affected EC’s distribution facilities
has reached nearly P1 billion. He appealed to the DBM for the release of
funds for the rehabilitation and restoration of electricity service.
“To address the urgency
of the need to rehabilitate and restore electric service in the coverage areas
of these ECs, the NEA and its partner ECs are requesting, or appealing, for the
much needed financial assistance in the form of subsidy or grant from the
national government in the amount of P1 billion,” Masongsong said.
As of December
17, NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD) reported
that the initial cost of damage to the ECs’ infrastructure from the
typhoon has ballooned to an estimated P899.632 million.
The Sorsogon 1 Electric
Cooperative Inc. (Soreco 1) incurred the most damage at P137.500 million,
followed by Albay Electric Cooperative Inc. (Aleco) at P134.487 million, and
Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ormeco) at P123.421 million.
Damage to Northern
Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Norsamelco) was pegged at P88.058
million, Masbate Electric Cooperative Inc. (Maselco) at P56.600 million,
and Sorsogon 2 Electric Cooperative (Soreco 2) at P55.441 million.
The NEA chief explained
that the ECs’ internally generated fund is not enough since their rate
structure as approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) does not
include any provision for capital expenditure requirement attributable to the
damage caused by calamities.
Masongsong earlier
disclosed that the state-run agency cannot implement at the moment
Republic Act 11039, also known as Electric Cooperatives Emergency and
Resiliency Fund (ECERF) Act because the initial P750-million funding for its
implementation has yet to be provided.
Meanwhile, the NEA
chief sees the 80-percent restoration of power in all affected areas by
December 20.
The NEA DRRMD reported
an estimated 514,570 households in 17 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas
covered by 27 ECs are still without electricity based on the figures submitted
by the power distribution utilities as of Tuesday.
Power was fully
restored to 180 typhoon-hit cities and municipalities. Service is partially
restored to 96 cities and municipalities, while restoration is still ongoing
for the remaining 36 cities and towns.
Typhoon Tisoy made
landfall in Gubat, Sorsogon last December 2.
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