Luzon power lines still down as Santi crop damage hits P3 B

MANILA, Philippines - Several areas in northern and central Luzon remained without electricity yesterday as relief workers struggled to clear roads of toppled trees and power pylons to restore vital power lines wrecked by Typhoon Santi on Saturday.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), the country’s transmission highway operator, said four North Luzon lines were still being restored as of yesterday afternoon.

These include the Cabanatuan-Bongabon-Baler 69-kiloVolt Line, which covers the municipalities of Talavera, Natividad, Bongabon, Palayan and Laur in Nueva Ecija as well as the municipalities of Dingalan, Baler, Maria Aurora and San Luis in Aurora; and the Cabanatuan-San Isidro 69kV Line 1, which affected the areas of Sta. Rosa, San Leonardo, Peñaranda and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija after the line tripped.

Other affected transmission lines are the Cabanatuan-San Isidro 69kV Line 2, which affected the municipalities of San Isidro, Gapan, Jaen, and San Antonio in Nueva Ecija and the

Cabanatuan-Plant 69kV Line, covering the areas of Muñoz, Aliaga, Guimba, Quezon Licab, Sto. Domingo, San Jose City, Carranglan, Pantabangan and Talogtog, also in Nueva Ecija,

On the other hand, the NGCP said that several transmission lines have already been restored. These include the Bacnotan-San Esteban 230kV Line and the Botolan-Candelaria 69 kV Line in Zambales.

The Mexico-PELCO 69kV Line, the Mexico-SKK40 69kV Line, the

Mexico-Clark 69kV Line 1 and the Mexico-Clark 69kV Line 2 in Pampanga have also been restored, the NGCP said.

“Necessary preparations and precautions have been implemented to minimize the impact of the storm on NGCP operation and facilities. These include ensuring the availability of hardware materials and supplies necessary for the repair of damages to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews in strategic areas, to facilitate immediate restoration work,” it said.

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s biggest power distributor, also said in its advisory yesterday, that restoration work in affected areas is still ongoing.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said power was restored in Aglipay in Quirino, and Dupax del Norte and Aritao both in Nueva Vizcaya yesterday morning.

The typhoon caused power outages in parts of Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Quezon and Ifugao.

“The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is working on the restoration of the power lines,” NDRRMC said.

The NDRRMC also said Santi left some P3 billion worth of crops and fisheries destroyed, affecting more than 200,000 people in northern and central Luzon.

In Nueva Ecija alone, damage to agriculture has reached P2.89 billion, according to data from the Central Luzon Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Aurora province, meanwhile, sustained P46.53 million worth of damage.

Rice farmers were the worst hit with P2.77 billion worth of losses.

Damaged high-value crops, which include fruits and vegetables, totaled P157.5 million while fisheries’ was pegged at P2.53 million.

The NDRRMC said a total of 16,530 houses have been damaged in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bulacan and Aurora provinces.

The typhoon also affected 219,591 persons or 46,295 families in 282 barangays in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

Of the affected population, 43,538 persons or 9,168 families were displaced.

NDRRMC said 7,421 persons or 1,736 families are staying in 58 evacuation centers while 36,117 individuals or 7,432 families are with their relatives and friends.

The death toll from Santi stood at 13 while three people were still missing.

The dead included two children, identified as seven- year-old Raymond Samson and Rachel Samson, 8, both of Concepcion, Tarlac.

Josefina Timoteo, civil defense director for Central Luzon, said the situation in the region is starting to normalize. She said the floods in several areas have subsided due to improved weather condition.

“The relief operations are ongoing. We are helping the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) and we are coordinating with the Air Force and Army for the availability of trucks and manpower,” Timoteo said.

NDRRMC said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local governments have provided P682,278 worth of assistance to affected residents.

A total of 1,923 passengers, 26 vessels, 16 rolling cargoes and 16 motorized bancas were stranded in Cebu, Manila, Romblon, Mamburao, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and Aparri.