Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin recently conducted a series of site inspections at the country’s key energy command centers to personally assess the power situation and ongoing restoration activities in the wake of disruptions caused by Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the Southwest Monsoon. Acting on the advice of the Office of the President, Secretary Garin’s visits aimed to ensure effective coordination and oversight of the immediate response efforts. Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella also participated in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) meeting via online to address urgent concerns.
The Secretary’s first stop was the Meralco Command Center, where the Department of Energy (DOE) received a comprehensive briefing on the power supply within Meralco’s franchise area. The overall electricity supply was reported as generally stable, with only isolated disruptions. Notable incidents included a fallen electric post along the northbound lane of C5 Katipunan-Ateneo, which led to temporary outages in nearby areas, and localized flooding causing supply interruptions in other affected communities. Power in the C5-Ateneo area was fully restored early Sunday morning, while efforts continue to restore electricity in flood-affected areas.
Next, Secretary Garin visited the National Electrification Administration (NEA) Command Center. Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda provided updates on the power restoration efforts being undertaken by various electric cooperatives. The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was identified as the hardest-hit area, specifically the provinces of Abra, Benguet, and Mountain Province. These provinces saw a total of six barangays affected, with approximately 3,805 consumer connections currently targeted for restoration. The electric cooperatives actively involved in the recovery operations include ABRECO, BENECO, and MOPRECO. Initial estimates place the cost of damage to their assets at approximately ₱1.49 million.
The final inspection was conducted at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Command Center. While no damages to transmission lines were reported, the DOE instructed NGCP to maintain close monitoring of the situation and to remain fully prepared to respond to any potential incidents within the transmission system.
The Department of Energy reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the swift and safe restoration of electricity in all affected areas and continues to work in close coordination with all members of the Task Force on Energy Resiliency.
