This picture taken on November 16, 2013 shows typhoon victims sitting around a table inside their partially damaged house at night in Tanauan on the outskirts of Tacloban. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla on Monday vowed to restore power supply in Eastern Visayas by Christmas.
Petilla made this promise in a speech after a flag raising ceremony held in front of the municipal hall of Palo town in Leyte, one of the areas severely hit by super typhoon “Yolanda,” said Radyo Inquirer 990AM reporter Chona Yu.
“Ang sabi nya (Petilla) sa salitang Waray, ‘Ipupusta ko ang position ko na by December 24, on or before Christmas, maibabalik ko yung supply ng kuryente sa Eastern Visayas,’” said Yu, who was also present at the flag raising.
Petilla was former governor of Leyte before he was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to head the Department of Energy.
Yu said employees were required to attend the flag raising ceremony because the President, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and other local officials were in town to look after the plight of the typhoon victims.
But she said the municipal hall itself was also destroyed by the typhoon so the employees had to make do with the only room at the ground floor spared by the typhoon.
In the evening, a free movie will be shown in front of the municipal hall to give temporary entertainment for the typhoon victims, Yu further said still quoting Petilla.
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