Power out in parts of Aurora, Isabela, Nueva Ecija due to Pepito

Areas in Isabela, and Nueva Ecija have been rendered partly powerless while transmission services in Aurora are still unavailable due to the impact of Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-Yi), which made its way over the Quirino Province on Sunday afternoon.

In an advisory released by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) as of 5 p.m. on Sunday, partial transmission services were reported by Iselco I which covers Cauayan City, Angadanan, Cabatuan, and Luna in Isabela.

Partial transmission services were also recorded by NEECO II in its Area 2 which covers Natividad, Llanera, Palayan, Rizal, Gabaldon, Laur, Bongabon, and Talavera in Nueva Ecija.

“Please note that this update pertains only to the status of the transmission network. Localized disturbances may be better addressed by your distribution utility. This also does not include lines exclusively serving directly connected industrial customers,” the NGCP said.

The grid operator also noted that it has mobilized its line crews, and it is currently conducting patrols and simultaneous restoration activities in areas already accessible.

Meanwhile, transmission services of AURELCO, which services Dingalan, San Luis, Maria Aurora, Baler, and Dipaculao in Aurora were unavailable. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRM) earlier reported the lack of power due to Pepito.

Pepito made its second landfall in Dipaculao, Aurora on Sunday afternoon, with the central portion of Aurora, the southern portion of Quirino, and the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya at tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) 5 based on the 5 p.m. advisory of PAGASA.

The center of the eye of Pepito was last estimated in the vicinity of Nagtipunan, Quirino, moving northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 305 kph. — BM, GMA Integrated News