Electric co-ops in Central Luzon help fix Aurora power lines

Grade school teacher Babylin Querijero clears debris in one of the classrooms of the Casiguran Central Elementary School in Aurora that was destroyed by Typhoon “Labuyo”. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines—At least 58 linemen from 10 cooperatives in Central Luzon reached northern Aurora on Friday to help repair power lines damaged by typhoon “Labuyo” two weeks ago and help restore electricity there in two to three weeks, officials said.

Linemen from the Pampanga Electric Cooperatives (Pelco) I, II and III were dispatched to Dinalungan town, according to Noel Vidad of  Aurora Electric Cooperative (Aurelco) in a report to the Public Information Agency here.

Assigned to Casiguran were personnel from the Nueva Ecija Electric Cooperative (Neeco) I and II, Penelco of Bataan, Tarelco I and II, Pampanga Rural Electric Service Cooperative and Zameco II.

Vidad said Labuyo’s strong winds toppled 324 electric posts and cut 207 others. These cost P9.6 million, he said.

The linemen brought 1 boom truck to the northern towns, said Reynaldo Villanueva, president of the Central Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association (Cleca)

Cleca has offered the services free of charge, asking Aurelco to provide only sleeping quarters for the linemen.