Power down but fuel supply still available after typhoon

MANILA, Philippines—Power outages hit provinces in Bicol, the Visayas region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces), but fuel supply was disrupted less as Tropical Storm “Ruby” battered the country.

The storm also toppled electricity poles and ripped power lines.

“Ruby is far less damaging than Yolanda but power lines have been hit and we are still assessing when power can be restored,” Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said. “As for fuel availability, there is enough supply as most gas stations have resumed operations.”

Downed power lines

As of Monday afternoon, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said downed transmission lines and facilities disrupted services in the southern part of Luzon, including those serving Quezon Electric Cooperative, Abaca fiber supplier Agro-Industrial Development Corp. and Sorsogon Electric Cooperative Inc. 1 and 2.

In the Visayas, the downed power lines were those connected to Northern Samar Electric Cooperative; Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative; Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative; Leyte Electric Cooperative 2, 3, 4 and 5; Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative; Samar Electric Cooperative 1; Biliran Electric Cooperative; Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp.; Samar Cooperatives; Specialty Pulp Manufacturing; Visayan Oil Mill; SC Global Coco Products; Capiz Electric Cooperative; Bohol Electric Cooperative 1 and 2; Iloilo Electric Cooperative 1 and 2; Philippine Mining Service Corp.; and Bohol Light Co.

Power services were also disrupted in Janopol in Bohol province and in Tacloban City and Palo and Babatngon towns in Leyte province.

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said it was on standby for emergencies in its franchise area.

Company spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said its franchise area (Metro Manila and surrounding provinces) had normal power supply as of press time on Monday.

Meralco has advised billboard managers to roll up their structures to prevent them from damaging power lines.

Safety tips

Meralco gave safety tips on using electrical devices and appliances in case of flooding:

— Ensure the main electrical power switch or circuit breaker is off. Be sure to be dry at all times while in contact with any electrical facility.

— Unplug appliances from wall sockets. Turn off permanently connected equipment and unscrew all light bulbs, if possible.

— Remove mud and dirt from service equipment or main circuit breaker or fuse and its enclosure using rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes.

— Make sure all electrical wires, connectors and other wiring devices are completely dry.

— When all electrical wires and accessories have dried and are clean, the wiring system of all appliances must be checked by a licensed electrician. Do not turn on flood-damaged electrical appliances.