'ODETTE' AFTERMATH. Motorists are seen passing beneath a utility pole along Sabellano St., Kinasang-an in Cebu City which was felled by Typhoon Odette that struck Cebu province on Thursday night (Dec. 16, 2021). On Monday, the Visayan Electric Co., Metro Cebu's main power distribution firm, said it has so far energized Cebu City's "lifeline" areas such as hospitals and water pump stations. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra) CEBU CITY - The Visayan Electric Company, Inc. (VECO) said it has energized the city's major lifeline areas to light up hospital zones and water pumping stations using 18 megawatts (MW) of power supply days after the major outages caused by Typhoon Odette. In a statement on Monday, the firm said power is back in a portion of V. Rama Avenue and B. Rodriguez Street, where the regional hospital Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) is situated. The supply came from the Cebu Private Power Corporation (CPPC). "We would like to emphasize that energization will prioritize hospitals, MCWD (Metro Cebu Water District) pumping stations, other vital institutions, or other loads cleared for energization. Energization of other areas will follow as soon as we get additional power from the grid," the power distribution firm said. The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) said in a separate statement that continued coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is ongoing in an effort to power up a mothballed power plant of Aboitiz Power Corp., a subsidiary of the CPPC. It said that the power plant was given authority to resume operation following intervention by OPAV Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino. Because of this, four power generator units started delivering power supply directly to VECO on Sunday morning. "This enabled (Visayan Electric) to provide much electricity starting with priority areas such as hospitals, government facilities, and the (MCWD) pumping stations," Dino said, adding that the CPPC is expecting more of its power generation units to operate in the next 24 hours, which could double the power output to 36 MW. Due to limited supply, the initial power output will be sent to VSMMC as well as private hospitals such as Chong Hua Hospital, Perpetual Succour Hospital, MCWD and Cebu provincial capitol. Although major thoroughfares in this city are already cleared of debris, fallen trees, and utility poles, many of the power lines still need to be repaired. In its restoration update, VECO said 39 percent of transmission lines have been cleared, energizing only 19 percent of its service areas so far. It also said that 100 percent of medium voltage substations are cleared which has energized almost 29 percent of the coverage area while 27 percent of primary distribution lines are cleared, energizing 6 percent of the areas covered. Fuel woes On Monday, Mayor Michael Rama inspected gasoline stations where long queues of vehicles caused heavy traffic not only in this city but also in other localities in Metro Cebu. While visiting a pump station in Barangay Talamban, Rama said he chanced upon a mini-truck loaded with containers being pumped with gasoline intended for sale at a high price. In Minglanilla town, only three of five big gas stations continue pumping fuel to motorists. However, gas station supervisors admitted they could hardly detect which of the customers are lining up for their own consumption and which are buying gasoline and diesel for reselling at higher prices. Francis Plarisan, a resident of Pakigne, Minglanilla, said he was able to buy gasoline for his motorcycle in a hinterland area for PHP130per liter, which is PHP76 higher than the prevailing pump price. "If dili ko mopalit, asa man ko og itubil sa akong motor? Kung molinya ko og 6 o'clock sa buntag, wa pa nay seguro kun matubilan ko inig alas 6 sa hapon. Grabe ang antos. So palit nalang ko sa tag-PHP130 ang litro kay sa dili makadagan atong motor (If I won't buy, where would I get for my motorcycle? If I begin joining the queue at 6 a.m., there is no assurance that my motorcycle could get a gas up at 6 p.m. of the same day. It's a big sacrifice. So, I paid for the PHP130 per liter to power my motorcycle), Plarisan told the Philippine News Agency in an interview. According to OPAV, the concern on the inability of some gas stations to operate was due to a lack of power generator sets. However, it said the Department of Energy - Visayas field office assured that Cebu would have enough supply of fuel which is good for the next 16 days. Preemptive evacuations praised Meanwhile, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said in a presser that preemptive evacuations conducted by the municipalities have prevented the massive loss of lives and injuries during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. She cited the efforts of the municipal government of Ronda, south of Cebu province, that resulted in zero casualties reported as of Sunday, while the rest of the affected towns saw a few deaths due to the typhoon. Garcia said the preemptive evacuations implemented by the local government units before the typhoon made landfall in Cebu last Thursday night cushioned the impact of "Odette" on the communities. In her ocular visit to the southern towns of the province to distribute cash aid on Sunday, the governor commended the mayors for their proactive measures, including their effort in bringing residents to safer areas such as covered courts and schools. (PNA) }

Related Keywords

Minglanilla , Cebu , Philippines , Pakigne , Philippine , Benguet , Visayan , Mindoro Occidental , Visayas , Philippines General , Francis Plarisan , Michael Rama , Barangay Talamban , Michael Lloyd Dino , Gwendolyn Garcia , Department Of Energy , Visayan Electric Company Inc , Cebu Private Power Corporation , Aboitiz Power Corp , Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center , Philippine News Agency , National Grid Corporation Of The Philippines , Visayan Electric Company , Metro Cebu Water District , Presidential Assistant , National Grid Corporation , Michael Lloyd , Visayan Electric , Chong Hua Hospital , Perpetual Succour Hospital , Mayor Michael Rama , Governor Gwendolyn Garcia , 9 Odette 39 Aftermath Motorists Are Seen Passing Beneatha Utility Pole Along Sabellano St , Inasang An In Cebu City Which Was Felled By Typhoon Odette That Struck Province On Thursday Night Dec 16 , 021 On Monday , He Visayan Electric Co , Etro Cebu 39s Main Power Distribution Firm , Aid It Has So Far Energized Cebu City 39s Quot Lifeline Areas Such As Hospitals And Water Pump Stations Pna Photo By John Rey Saavedra The Visayan Electric Company , Nc Veco Said It Has Energized The City 39s Major Lifeline Areas To Light Up Hospital Zones And Water Pumping Stations Using 18 Megawatts Mw Of Power Supply Days After Outages Caused By Typhoon Odette Ina Statement On Monday , He Firm Said Power Is Back Ina Portion Ofv Rama Avenue Andb Rodriguez Street , Here The Regional Hospital Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Vsmmc Is Situated Supply Came From Cebu Private Power Corporation Cppc Quot We Would Like To Emphasize That Energization Will Prioritize Hospitals , Cwd Metro Cebu Water District Pumping Stations , Ther Vital Institutions , R Other Loads Cleared For Energization Of Areas Will Follow As Soon We Get Additional Power From The Grid , Uot The Power Distribution Firm Said Office Of Presidential Assistant For Visayas Opav Ina Separate Statement That Continued Coordination With National Grid Corporation Philippines Ngcp Is Ongoing In An Effort To Upa Mothballed Plant Aboitiz Corp , A Subsidiary Of The Cppc It Said That Power Plant Was Given Authority To Resume Operation Following Intervention By Opav Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino Because This , Our Power Generator Units Started Delivering Supply Directly To Veco On Sunday Morning Quot This Enabled Visayan Electric Provide Much Electricity Starting With Priority Areas Such As Hospitals , Government Facilities , Nd The Mcwd Pumping Stations , Uot Dino Said , Dding That The Cppc Is Expecting More Of Its Power Generation Units To Operate In Next 24 Hours , Hich Could Double The Power Output To 36 Mw Due Limited Supply , He Initial Power Output Will Be Sent To Vsmmc As Well Private Hospitals Such Chong Hua Hospital , Cwd And Cebu Provincial Capitol Although Major Thoroughfares In This City Are Already Cleared Of Debris , Fallen Trees , Nd Utility Poles , Any Of The Power Lines Still Need To Be Repaired In Its Restoration Update , Eco Said 39 Percent Of Transmission Lines Have Been Cleared , Nergizing Only 19 Percent Of Its Service Areas So Far It Also Said That 100 Medium Voltage Substations Are Cleared Which Has Energized Almost 29 The Coverage Area While 27 Primary Distribution Lines , Nergizing 6 Percent Of The Areas Covered Fuel Woes On Monday , Ayor Michael Rama Inspected Gasoline Stations Where Long Queues Of Vehicles Caused Heavy Traffic Not Only In This City But Also Other Localities Metro Cebu While Visitinga Pump Station Barangay Talamban , Ama Said He Chanced Upona Mini Truck Loaded With Containers Being Pumped Gasoline Intended For Sale Ata High Price In Minglanilla Town , Nly Three Of Five Big Gas Stations Continue Pumping Fuel To Motorists However , As Station Supervisors Admitted They Could Hardly Detect Which Of The Customers Are Lining Up For Their Own Consumption And Buying Gasoline Diesel Reselling At Higher Prices Francis Plarisan , A Resident Of Pakigne , Aid He Was Able To Buy Gasoline For His Motorcycle Ina Hinterland Area Php130per Liter , Hich Is Php76 Higher Than The Prevailing Pump Price Quot If Dili Ko Mopalit , Sa Man Ko Og Itubil Akong Motor Kung Molinya 6o 39 Clock Buntag , A Pa Nay Seguro Kun Matubilan Ko Inig Alas 6 Sa Hapon Grabe Ang Antos So Palit Nalang Tag Php130 Litro Kay Dili Makadagan Atong Motor Ifi Won 39t Buy , Here Wouldi Get For My Motorcycle Ifi Begin Joining The Queue At 6am , Here Is No Assurance That My Motorcycle Could Geta Gas Up At 6 Pm Of The Same Day It 39 Sa Big Sacrifice So , I Paid For The Php130 Per Liter To Power My Motorcycle , Larisan Told The Philippine News Agency In An Interview According To Opav , He Concern On The Inability Of Some Gas Stations To Operate Was Due Toa Lack Power Generator Sets However , T Said The Department Of Energy Visayas Field Office Assured That Cebu Would Have Enough Supply Fuel Which Is Good For Next 16 Days Preemptive Evacuations Praised Meanwhile , Overnor Gwendolyn Garcia Said Ina Presser That Preemptive Evacuations Conducted By The Municipalities Have Prevented Massive Loss Of Lives And Injuries During Onslaught Typhoon Odette She Cited Efforts Municipal Government Ronda , Outh Of Cebu Province , Hat Resulted In Zero Casualties Reported As Of Sunday , Hile The Rest Of Affected Towns Sawa Few Deaths Due To Typhoon Garcia Said Preemptive Evacuations Implemented By Local Government Units Before Made Landfall In Cebu Last Thursday Night Cushioned Impact Quot Odette On Communities Her Ocular Visit Southern Province Distribute Cash Aid Sunday , He Governor Commended The Mayors For Their Proactive Measures , Ncluding Their Effort In Bringing Residents To Safer Areas Such As Covered Courts And Schools Pna ,