Rush power restoration in Albay, priests urge

LEGAZPI CITY—Around 40 priests from municipalities and cities in the Diocese of Legazpi have expressed dismay at efforts to restore power by Albay Power and Energy Corp. (Apec), which has given priority to urban areas over rural areas in the province.

“It has been nearly a month since Typhoon ‘Glenda’ struck the Bicol region, but most areas have not yet been energized,” said Fr. Nic Bilono of St. Gregory the Great Cathedral parish here.

Bilono said energizing urban areas first was “not even acceptable” since most of the people suffering from total darkness are in the rural areas.

The needs of the people, both in urban and rural areas, are almost similar, said Bilono, who was among the 40 priests who signed an open letter to Apec, San Miguel Corp., Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla and Albay Gov. Joey Salceda.

“In the rural areas there are small entrepreneurs who need power for their businesses. Students in these areas need to study their lessons too, so why this prioritization scheme?” he asked.

Jane Rogando, Apec spokesperson, said the company had been doing its very best to provide power to the province. She cited the creation of Task Force Glenda, which solicited the support of electric cooperatives from different provinces so power could be restored before September.

“The only problem we are en countering is the poor manpower and delayed arrival of electric supplies,” Rogando said.

In early August, Apec reported that power had returned to nearly half of the “backbone lines” or electric posts whose connections are in the main road where hospitals, schools, and commercial establishments are located.

On July 30 and Aug. 4, 67 personnel arrived from 11 cooperatives, mostly from Luzon, to help Apec.