NEA: 24 electric coops sustained P70.25-M damage due to Kristine

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) on Thursday said at least 24 electric cooperatives sustained millions of pesos worth of damage to their power infrastructure due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

In a statement, NEA said the initial estimated cost of infrastructure damage incurred by the electric cooperatives reached P70,251,981.09.

The agency said the onslaught of Kristine triggered declarations of state of calamity across many areas in the Calabarzon, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas regions as well as disruption of electricity services.

For his part, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said the affected electric cooperatives are “working tirelessly to bring their power distribution operations back to normal as soon as possible.”

He said the repair of damaged distribution lines continues in the franchise areas of ECs in Albay (ALECO), Batangas (BATELEC I), Camarines Sur (CASURECO II and III), and Pangasinan (PANELCO I).

The NEA chief noted that the ports in Allen and Matnog, Sorsogon are also energized to ensure smooth operations in the transport of goods and services. 

Almeda said that damage assessment in the storm-hit electric cooperatives is still incomplete as additional reports are still coming in, especially in areas that remain flooded.—AOL, GMA Integrated News