A power lineman in Metro Cebu works on restoring electricity to the city as cold storage facilities worried about vaccines in their care. —Contributed photo
CEBU CITY––The Cebu government started distributing Monday incentives to police officers, soldiers, and linemen who helped clean the roads and restore power lines after Typhoon “Odette” (Rai) devastated the province on Dec. 16, 2021.
Each of the 3,413 members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Visayan Electric, and Cebu Electric Cooperative (Cebeco) 1, 2, and 3 received P5,000 from the province.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the amount was a token of appreciation for the hard work and commitment of these individuals.
“You have performed beyond expectations,” said the governor who led the ceremonial turnover Monday of the incentives at the Capitol Social Hall.
The province released P17,065,000 in public funds as financial incentives for workers who took part in the clearing and rebuilding efforts.
A total of 580 linemen from four power distributors–Cebeco I, II, and III, and Visayan Electric–were qualified to receive the cash aid from the provincial government.
Other recipients of the cash incentives were 2,609 policemen; 99 from the Regional Community Defense Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); 31 personnel from the 53rd Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army; and 94 personnel from the AFP Task Group Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor.
Eligible beneficiaries have to present their company ID at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office in claiming the cash incentive.
The province has been focusing on helping affected residents and business establishments get back on their feet.
As of Monday, Visayan Electric had restored power to 85 percent or 403,288 of its 474,182 affected customers in Metro Cebu.
The electric firm earlier promised to restore power to 100 percent of its affected customers by Jan. 31, 2022.
Visayan Electric has received assistance from linemen of other power distributors operating outside Cebu province.