NEA seeks financial assistance for ECs as typhoon damage hits P1 billion

MANILA, Philippines — State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) is seeking financial assistance for electric cooperatives (ECs) as the cost of damage wrought by Typhoon Tisoy has reached nearly P1 billion.

NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong wrote the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release funds for the rehabilitation and restoration of electricity service by the 27 ECs whose power distribution facilities were severely damaged by the recent typhoon.

Latest data from the NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD) showed the cost of damage to the ECs’ infrastructure from the typhoon had ballooned to around P899.63 million.

The Sorsogon I Electric Cooperative Inc. (Soreco I) incurred the most damage at P137.5 million, followed by the Albay Electric Cooperative Inc. (Aleco) at P134.49 million, and Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (Ormeco) at P123.42 million.

Damage to Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (Norsamelco) was pegged at P88.06 million, Masbate Electric Cooperative (Maselco) at P56.6 million, and Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative (Soreco II) at P55.44 million.

“To address the urgency of the need to rehabilitate and restore electric service in the coverage areas of these ECs, the NEA and its partner ECs are requesting/appealing for the much needed financial assistance in the form of subsidy/grant from the national government in the amount of P1 billion,” Masongsong said.

In his letter to the DBM, Masongsong said the ECs’ internally generated funds could not cover such funding requirement since their rate structure as approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) does not include any provision for capital expenditure requirement attributable to the damage caused by calamities.

Masongsong earlier disclosed that NEA could not at the moment implement Republic Act 11039 or the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund (ECERF) Act, as the initial P750-million funding for its implementation has yet to be provided.

Meanwhile, the NEA chief sees the 80-percent restoration of power in all affected areas by Dec. 20, saying the EC workers have been working round-the-clock to restore electricity service.

To speed up the power restoration activities, NEA in coordination with the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA) has mobilized and deployed Task Force Kapatid “Tisoy”to calamity-stricken Luzon and Visayas provinces.

NEA DRRMD reported an estimated 514,570 households in 17 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas covered by 27 ECs are still without electricity based on the figures submitted by the power distribution utilities as of Tuesday.