HOUSE Committee on Energy chair Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo commended the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and others in the energy sector for their non-stop work in restoring power supplies in the areas ravaged by Typhoon Odette.

The NGCP said it will try it very best effort to restore the power supplies before the December 30.

Power supplies are still down in Surigao del Norte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Occidental and Palawan weeks after Typhoon Odette wreak havoc in the large portions of Mindano and Visayas.

“I would like to commend the NGCP and their people and all those in the energy sector who have been working tirelessly even in the holiday season when everyone is supposed to be spending time with their loves ones, to restore power for the areas rendered powerless by Typhoon Odette,” Arroyo said.

The House leader said he is in constant coordination with NGCP president Anthony Almeda, discussing with him on expediting power restoration in areas affected.

“And they have delivered. Atty. Mutya Alabanza, NGCP’s corporate communication head, has been updating me at least three times a day on the progress of the power restoration,” the solon added.

As of December 27, NGCP said power has been restored in the provinces of Northern Samar; Eastern Samar; Samar; Biliran; Leyte; Cebu; Negros Occidental; Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

Meanwhile, power was partially restored with full restoration expected before New Year in the provinces of Negros Oriental; and Surigao del Sur.

Bohol, which was originally scheduled to have full power restored by December 31, was rescheduled for a later date.

NGCP added that the 69lV line in Maasin-Baybay has been partially restored with full restoration expected by December 31.

Meanwhile, Arroyo cited power distribution utility Meralco for sending and deploying a 160-man contingent of engineers, linemen and support personnel, as well as vehicles, generator sets and heavy equipment to the typhoon ravaged Cebu and Bohol.

A total of 54 Meralco personnel are already assisting in power restoration activities in Cebu; while 31 out of 106 personnel are already deployed in Bohol.

Moreover, its power generating arm Meralco PowerGen Corporation and the Global Business Power Corporation also teamed up to provide 20,000 liters of diesel to help fuel the generator sets of PLDT and Smart.

Together with its corporate social responsibility arm, One Meralco Foundation, which likewise sent relief goods, Meralco continues to work closely with other local governments and electric cooperatives to speed up the restoration process.

The following lines however, are still unavailable: (Visayas) Maasin-Nasaug-San Isidro; Ubay-Alicia-Garcia; Ubay-Trinidad-Carmen; Amlan-San Carlos; Mabinay-Bayawan; and (Mindanao) Placer-Madrid.