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Friday, March 29, 2024

‘Secure power for Marawi’

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The National Electrification Administration has directed the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc. or Lasureco to ensure adequate power supply in temporary shelters areas for residents affected by the Marawi City siege.

“While Lasureco is waiting for the normalization of the security situation before it can repair its facilities in Marawi City, they must ensure that electricity services are unhampered in localities hosting the evacuees,” NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong said in a statement.

Masongsong said Lasureco should focus on providing electricity to Marawi’s neighboring areas such as Iligan City, where displaced residents are staying in evacuation centers.

Masongsong also expressed dismay over the outbreak of hostilities in Marawi as it occurred at a time when the Task Force Duterte-Lanao Sur Power has “hit the ground running” to revive the ailing electric cooperative.

“Lasureco was on its way to full rehabilitation when this unfortunate event happened,” he said.

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Lasureco acting general manager Nordjiana Ducol said a satellite office has been set up in Iligan to address the concerns of their employees and member-consumers who are displaced by the fighting.

Last May 24, Masongsong issued an advisory directing all electric cooperatives across the island of Mindanao to increase security of their facilities, especially the offices and power substations, in view of the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao for 60 days.

The Energy department. for its part, convened the inter-agency task force to secure all the energy facilities, such as power plants, transmission tower, distribution facilities and oil depots, in Mindanao.

An inter-agency group has also been created to rehabilitate the energy facilities damaged by clashes in Marawi.

The siege in Marawi has entered its third week since terrorists of the ISIS-allied Maute Group occupied the center of the city on May 23.

Meanwhile, following a request from Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman, investors in the ARMM donated funds and goods for families displaced by the Marawi crisis.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, chairman of the ARMM Regional Board of Investments, said businesses donated cash and goods to the region that will cushion the impact of hostilities on residents of Marawi and its nearby towns.

Mastura did not disclose the amount raised by the fund drive, since “more are pledges from traders inside and outside the region.”

Earlier, Hataman called on investors and business leaders in the region to assist in the relief operations “to ease the sufferings of around 235,580 internally displaced persons caused by the armed conflict between the terrorist Maute group and government forces.”

”This a crucial time for all Bangsamoro people to unite and help,” Mastura said.

“Our Maranao brothers and sisters are now in their worst situation that is why we asked local companies in the region to share their blessings, show their benevolence and contribute for the early recovery and rehabilitation of Marawi City,” Mastura said, giving priorities to food and non-food supplies that carry the victims throughout their daily routines.

“We are very happy and thankful that these companies have positively responded to our call for humanitarian assistance and be part of the solution,” Mastura added.

RBOI-ARMM employees had earlier gathered food and non-food items, while cash collected from workers were also converted into goods.

An estimated 1,000 families will receive the relief goods.

In coordination with the ARMM- Humanitarian Emergency and Action Response Team (HEART), the relief goods given by the registered enterprises were personally delivered by the RBOI employees straight to the relief operation center in Malabang, Lanao del Sur ready for distribution to the evacuees.

Mastura identified the companions that shared blessings as Lamsan Holdings Corporation, Agumil Philippines Incorporated, Green Earth Enersource Corporation, Philippine Trade Center Inc. (PTC), Matling Commercial and Industrial Corporation, Minrico Lumber Corporation, Al-Mujahidun Agro Resources & Development Inc. and Al Sahar Agri-Ventures, Inc. With PNA

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