Sec. Cusi Initiates Rapid Response as Typhoon Kiko Nears

TAGUIG CITY - As the country braces for the onslaught of Typhoon Kiko, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi asked public utilities on energy as well as other industry players to intensify their preparation and readiness to respond and help the affected areas as soon as possible. 

Typhoon Kiko, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kilometers, is spotted at 785 kilometers East of Baler, Aurora, as of 4:00 am Thursday.

After making landfall and causing destruction on its path, Tropical Storm Jolina is on its way out of the country, and was estimated to be at 145 kilometers West Northwest of Iba, Zambales. 

“We are asking all the energy public utilities and industry players with their facilities affected by Tropical Storm Jolina to fast track their restoration activities, and at the same time, prepare and be ready for the incoming Typhoon Kiko,” Secretary Cusi said.

He noted that while Jolina is moving away from the country, PAGASA warned that it could still cause widely scattered flooding and rain-induced landslides. In the next 36 hours, winds reaching up to near gale may blow as Typhoon Kiko nears the landmass.

Secretary Cusi issued instructions to the Task Force on Energy Resiliency to coordinate and ensure quick power restoration to affected areas of tropical storm Jolina at the same time initiate all preparations for typhoon Kiko. 

He expressed his appreciation to the Department, especially to the people on the ground, for their commitment to help bring back normalcy to those heavily hit by the typhoon. 

Among the affected areas were several municipalities in Batangas, Masbate, Romblon, Samar, and Leyte.

Amid the inclement weather, the DOE also reported on the power situation of households/areas affected as of today, 09 September, 10:00 A.M.

STATUS OF HOUSEHOLD CONNECTION RESTORATION ACTIVITIES
Tropical Storm Jolina (Conson)

• According to the *Power Monitoring Report of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) as of 3PM, 8 September 2021*, restoration activities in the following electric cooperatives (ECs) are as follows: 

QUEZELCO I: 127,661/191,639 (66.62%)
MARELCO: 5,482/52,815 (10.38%)
TIELCO: 47,334/47,460 (99.36%)
MASELCO: 12,629/94,532 (13.36%)
TISELCO: 3,000/19,000 (15.79%)
BILECO: 27,780/39,105 (71.04%)
NORSAMELCO: 100,427/105,973 (94.77%)
SAMELCO II: 57,341/94,168 (60.89%)
ESAMELCO: 45,647/93,556 (48.79%)
LEYECO V: 124,858/150,179 (83.14%)

• There are *FOUR ECs* that have been fully (100%) restored: BATELEC I, BATELEC II, SAMELCO I, and LEYECO III

• Of the total 1,547,345 household connections, 694,682 or 44.9% have been restored. 

• MARELCO has reported damages with an estimated cost of PHP 252,765.23.

• In addition to NEA's report, the following ECs submitted their forecasted date of restoration:

MARELCO: 23 September 2021
TIELCO: 29 September 2021
MASELCO: 30 September 2021
NORSAMELCO: 9 September 2021
SAMELCO I: 10 September 2021
SAMELCO II: 8 September 2021

• ALECO, CEBECO II, DORELCO, LEYECO II, LEYECO IV, SAMELCO I, LEYECO III, and SOLECO experienced power interruptions, but are back to NORMAL OPERATIONS. 

• Per the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines' Report (as of 1AM, 9 September 2021), the transmission lines serving ZAMELCO II have been restored as of 9:06PM and Meralco, FBPC at 7:04PM on 08 September 2021. 

The transmission line serving BATELEC II experienced a series of power interruptions, but was fully restored at 8:08PM on 8 September 2021. 

MERALCO under Bolboc-BCWD 13.8Kv line, ESAMELCO, and SAMELCO I are isolated due to unavailable transmission lines.

Further updates would be released as soon as the information becomes available. 

In the meantime, the Energy chief calls on everyone to remain vigilant and report any potential danger to transmission towers or power lines to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (09178476427/ 09188476427), and/or your distribution utility or electric cooperative.

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