KALINGA-Apayao Electric Cooperative (Kaelco) is expecting a 100 percent restoration of power supply in Kalinga following the destruction of its power lines during the onslaught of typhoon Lawin.
Kaelco Energy Trading/CORPLAN division chief Leonardo Egcatan said the National Electrification Authority (NEA) has ordered the cooperative to restore the supply of power to all municipalities of Kalinga this January after missing first deadline supposedly set on November 30 last year.
Egcatan said the cooperative is doing its best to restore the power supply in Kalinga after super typhoon Lawin destroyed many power lines and structures in October in the province.
Since the supposed deadline on November 30 was not accomplished due to problems in remote areas, Kaelco extended its deadline until December 12 but it was not accomplished since there are areas that are still inaccessible.
The Kaelco official added as of December 23, there is only 1.28 percent households in Kalinga which have no power supply.
Egcatan said there are households in Barangay Pakawit and Barangay Dogpa in the Municipality of Pinukpuk which does not have power supply since posts are still being hauled.
“Nahihirapan tayo sa pagdala sa mga materials lalo na sa mga posteng nasira,” Egcatan said.
According to Egcatan, there are some roads that are still inaccessible causing the delay of the restoration of power in the municipality.
“Yung mga poste ay bubuhatin manually katulong ang mga kalabaw para madala at mapatayo,” Egcatan said.
Kaelco meanwhile lost P93 million the typhoon.
Due to losses, Kaelco is planning to increase its power rate to its consumers.
Kaelco also thanked personnel of other electric cooperatives from Batangas, Laguna, Sorsogon, Pangasinan, Benguet, Isabela, Ifugao and Quezon as well as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Metro Manila Development Authority, other local government units, private contractors and private individuals who helped in the power restoration.