Ilocos Norte sends team to help restore power in areas hit by ‘Odette’

A lineman of Leyte III Electric Cooperative Inc. works to restore power in Southern Leyte province on Christmas eve. | Photo courtesy of Leyte III Electric Cooperative Inc.

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte––At least 20 engineers and linemen from the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) arrived Tuesday, Dec. 28, in Southern Leyte to help fast-track the power restoration efforts in areas ravaged by Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai).

Noel Andres, INEC information officer, said the 20 electric personnel would help repair toppled power and transmission lines for at least one month.

The team sent by INEC is part of the initiative of the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc., after activating “Task Force Kapatid.”

Other electric cooperatives from across the country had also deployed their personnel to typhoon-hit areas.

“These selfless linemen will be welcoming 2022 in Southern Leyte, away from their families to extend help,” said Leyte III Electric Cooperative in a social media post on Tuesday.

Southern Leyte remained without electricity a week after Odette cut a destructive path in the province, according to Danilo Atienza, local disaster response official, during an interview Tuesday with ANC’s “Headstart.”

The Ilocos Norte government also pledged last week at least P3 million in financial aid to the provinces affected by the onslaught of Odette.

The cash assistance would be taken from Ilocos Norte’s regular budget and given to those affected in Cebu, Guimaras, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Negros Occidental, and Surigao del Sur.

The local government also continued to collect donations of grocery items, used clothing, water, rice, and other essentials for its disaster relief drive for the affected areas carrying the message that the “north stands” with those hit by the calamity.

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