MANILA, Philippines -- The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is ready to transmit power back to the provinces of Abra, Isabela, Cagayan and in several municipalities, starting Sunday noon, in the Ilocos provinces, after typhoon Pepeng struck northern Luzon on Saturday afternoon.

However, electric cooperatives (distribution utilities) in Cagayan and Isabela were not yet ready to receive electricity, according to the NGCP.

Information from the NGCP showed that as of 12:34 p.m. on Sunday, its 230-kilovolt transmission lines covered by the Gamu, Tuguegarao and San Esteban substations was ready to resume operations.

NGCP, a private consortium that operates the country's so-called electricity superhighway, said their substations could already transmit power anytime beginning Sunday.

Transmission lines in several parts of the Ilocos provinces were already restored, particularly the Laoag-INEC/Marcos 69-kV line and the Bantay-ISECO/VIgan 69-kV line, following the clearing of debris in those areas.

As of Sunday noon, however, NGCP was still inspecting and assessing its other 69-kv lines, which would affect power transmission particularly in the municipalities of Narvacan, Sta. Maris, Burgos, San Esteban in Ilocos Sur and the municipalities of Currimao, Badoc, Paoay, Pinili and some parts of Batac and Paoay in Ilocos Norte.

"NGCP linemen have been deployed to check all other lines affected by the typhoon. NGCP's operations and maintenance and system operations personnel are working round-the-clock and are closely coordinating with the distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in the affected areas to facilitate faster restoration works," it explained.