The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is preparing the government’s assistance to the families of two linemen who died while working on energy restoration activities.
The linemen, Al Abarico of Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO), and Ronald Gallarde of Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative (NORECO II) were working to restore the electricity of their respective Odette-affected areas.
The NEA has coordinated with the Office of the President and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure aid is provided to the bereaved families.
In addition to government aid, NEA employees volunteered to provide some financial assistance to the families of those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
NEA said the llinemen will both be remembered for their exceptional efforts to alleviate the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette.
In honor of these men and in the spirit of solidarity, the NEA employees initiated a collection to be given to the families of Abarico and Gallarde.
As of December 27, they have raised a total of P50,000.
Meanwhile, Philreca said the main challenge of the organization at the moment is to maximize the inter-island transport of the contingents from port of origin to the port of destination.
“We are very thankful for the Philippine Navy and the Coast Guard for assisting us in the best that they can, but due to our large contingents, the vessel available from the Navy is still not enough to complete the transport of our Task Force,” Philreca regulatory compliance officer Kenjie Fagyan said.
Philreca said some ports which are unusable at the moment, which means they would have to travel a longer route in some instances so they can go to a port where the boom trucks, utility vehicles, and other equipment can be loaded.
To date, the following remain electric cooperatives remain unenergized: Bohol I Electric Cooperative (BOHECO I), Bohol II Electric Cooperative (BOHECO II), Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOLECO), Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. (SURNECO), Siargao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SIARELCO), and Dinagat Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DIELCO).
Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said power transmission services are still unavailable in the areas of BOHECO I, BOHECO II, SIARELCO, and SOLECO, with partial availability in Negros Oriental I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORECO I), Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORECO II), SURNECO, and Surigao del Sur II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SURSECO II).
To maximize the efforts of the Task Force Kapatid, the One EC Network Foundation (OECNF) took advantage of the availability of utility vehicles to send in relief goods like food, water, rice, and other basic necessities.
“We received information that some areas are experiencing lack of food and other basic necessities, so, instead of sending financial assistance in those areas, we requested our members to purchase the necessary goods and send these together with the Task Force contingents,” said Presley De Jesus, president of PHILRECA and OECNF.
“We are still consolidating information on effect of the typhoon to coop employees and MCOs, but as of this writing, the Foundation has released Php 4,951,000.00 worth of assistance – in cash and in kind – for the benefit of those EC employees and families affected by the typhoon,” said De Jesus.
Some ECs have also directly sent their own assistance to affected regions.
At the moment, Task Force Kapatid has deployed or scheduled to deploy 107 teams composed of 650 contingents, and 133 vehicles (boom trucks and other utility vehicles).