The Department of Energy (DOE), in close coordination with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and seven electric cooperatives (ECs), convened today to assess the status of power restoration across the Bicol region following recent typhoon damage. Heeding the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the swift recovery of affected communities, the meeting confirmed that while substantial progress has been made, coordinated efforts are accelerating to overcome persistent infrastructure challenges.
The key bottleneck—the restoration of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) transmission lines—is nearing resolution. NGCP anticipates completing the restoration of damaged primary lines within one week, utilizing a bypass line for the critical Naga-Iriga-Lagonoy corridor.
The ECs affirmed their readiness to energize their respective coverage areas immediately upon the restoration of NGCP’s services. Barring the most remote areas, mainland Bicol restoration is collectively targeted for completion within two weeks. Remote areas are aimed for full energization by year-end.
“The entire energy family is working in lockstep to reconnect every Bicolano home and business to the grid safely and rapidly,” said a DOE representative. “Our cooperatives have demonstrated remarkable resilience, preparing their distribution networks so that there is no delay once the main transmission line is operational.”
- CASURECO IV: Anticipates reaching 70% energization within one week after the NGCP’s line restoration, with the more challenging coastal areas targeted for full completion by December.
- ALECO (Albay): Reports varying degrees of restoration across its municipalities and is aiming for 70% overall energization by the end of November.
- SORECO II (Sorsogon): Reports 29% of its network restored. SORECO II’s restoration efforts are primarily hampered by local flooding and extensive vegetation clearing, not NGCP’s transmission issues. The cooperative is targeting the completion of major vegetation clearing within the next five days.
- SORECO I: Has energized 37% of its barangays and expects to dedicate teams to assist other cooperatives once its local restoration work is substantially complete later this week.
Progress is also being made in Qualified Third Party (QTP) areas. FP Island Energy Corporation reports that Haponan Island is fully restored, with ongoing efforts focused on Lahuy and Quinalasag Islands. Additionally, the National Power Corporation (NPC) is on standby, awaiting dispatch instructions from CANORECO to deploy generator sets to Calaguas Island, ensuring power reaches even the most isolated communities.
The DOE and its partner agencies remain committed to this coordinated and intensive effort, ensuring the swift and safe recovery of the Bicol region in fulfillment of the national directive.
