DOE: Energy resiliency task force on its way to Cebu

DOE Secretary Sharon Garin DOE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The task force that would address electricity woes in earthquake-hit Cebu would arrive in the area by Thursday or Friday, according to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin.

Garin made the statement during the Commission on Appointments’ confirmation hearing on her appointment as energy chief on Wednesday.

This came after Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros said that a task force needs to be deployed in Cebu and earthquake-affected provinces and cities.

READ: Magnitude 6.9 earthquake kills 61, damages heritage churches in Cebu

“Cebu happened last night. We have to call on them. They have to prepare, they have to create a team [and] all their heavy equipment has to be transported. It takes them a day or two just to get to the area,” said Garin.

With this, Hontiveros said quake-affected Filipinos could expect or hope that by Thursday or Friday, DOE’s task force would already be in the area— which Garin agreed upon.

According to Garin, whenever a “disaster of this kind” happens, the DOE activates the Task Force on Energy Resiliency.

“Once it is activated, all the stakeholders are gathered in order for us to have information and act on the problems—so that includes the National Power Corporation, National Electrification Administration, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, National Transmission Commission, all the oil companies for the gas stations, [and] DOE. So once it is activated, all these activities—similar to what we are doing to Masbate are being done also,” she said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday morning reported 26 deaths linked to the destructive 6.9 quake that struck Cebu on Tuesday evening.

NDRRMC said the deaths have yet to be validated, adding that 147 were reported injured, while no one was reported missing so far. /cb