Power back in capital of typhoon-hit Batanes

BASCO, Batanes — Electricity was finally restored in this capital town at noon yesterday when linemen of the National Power Corp. (Napocor) and the Batanes Electric Cooperative Inc. (Batanelco) completed their maintenance and rehabilitation work in the aftermath of supertyphoon "Igme."

The rest of the province, however, remains without power. No one from Batanelco could say when electricity in the municipalities of Mahatao, Ivana, Uyugan, Sabtang and Itbayat would be restored.

"Igme" pounded this northernmost province for two days early this week, cutting off power and all communication lines.

It was the first time, in living memory, that Batanes was placed under Typhoon Signal No. 4. "Igme" was packed with center winds of 175 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 235 kph when it was closest to this island-province last Wednesday.

Communication lines have been down since Tuesday when the Napocor shut off its power supply.

Hundreds of incoming and outgoing air passengers remain stranded here and in Manila, Laoag City and Tuguegarao City.

Panic-buying has been the most serious economic activity in all towns since Friday following the sinking of M/V Ivatan Princess, the grounding of M/V Queen of Fatima and the beaching of M/V Don Rudito.

All three ships, owned by the Batanes Multipurpose Cooperative Inc., formed the main economic life-line of the Ivatans. They transported prime commodities, government supplies and construction materials from mainland Luzon almost on a weekly basis.

Crewmen abandoned the M/V Ivatan Princess when it suffered engine trouble off Calayan Island in Cagayan last Monday while it was en route to its homeport in San Fernando, La Union. It has reportedly sunk.

The M/V Queen of Fatima, which ran aground at the government pier here last June 19, suffered further damage when big waves tossed it inland.

The M/V Don Dudito, on the other hand, got beached at the height of the typhoon last Wednesday, sustaining several holes in its hull.

Without any ship scheduled to sail here and with more bad weather forthcoming since this is "typhoon season," the more economically stable islanders have stockpiled bags of rice and sugar, emptying the warehouses of commercial rice dealers and the shelves of sugar retailers. The less fortunate will have to fend for themselves with government rice.

Gov. Vicente Gato has quoted Francisco Escalona, provincial chief of the National Food Authority, as giving assurance that his agency has a stock at least 5,600 bags of rice enough to last for two more months.

Last Friday night, Gato met with the members of the local Chamber of Commerce, the Batanes Multipurpose Cooperative Inc. (BMPCI), Batanes Traders’ Cooperative and other business groups to map out strategies to forestall a food shortage.

Gato said the BMPCI will charter other commercial ships to bring in much-needed supplies, especially food items, to the province, while local traders promised to maintain their current prices.

The provincial board, meeting for the first time on Tuesday, is expected to declare a state of calamity in the province. That is if President Arroyo fails to do so.