CABANATUAN CITY – It’s business as usual for establishments within the city proper and major streets in this highly urbanizing city after electricity was partially restored by the Cabanatuan Electric Corp. (Celcor), the local power distributor, starting 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara who chairs the city disaster risk reduction coordinating council said that the partial restoration was made amid 24/7 rehabilitation efforts of the firm. The energy was sourced from the First Cabanatuan Ventures Corp., an independent power producer that generates 25.6 megawatts of electricity.
According to Celcor, 37 primary 69 KV, 60- footer posts from Zulueta St. to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) Sta. Rosa Substation and FCVC Corp. to Araullo University in Barangay Bitas were damaged. These lines, the Celcor explained, supplies electricity to its Bitas and Barrera substations.
Rossana Vergara and other officials said in a letter that feeder lines in Barrera and Bitas which supply electricity to various villages also fell. The company vows continuous effort. “Liban na walang mangyayaring hindi inaasahan, ang Celcor ay gagawin ang lahat ng makakaya upang makapag-partial energization mula sa FCVC
help, it said.
The CDRRMC reported the damages to crops and infrastructures wrought by Santi in the city were placed at some P183 million and P149 million, respectively. The CDRRMC said that damage to crops such as palay, vegetables, corn and citrus covered 98.769 percent of the 9,621.22 hectares of farmlands here.
Lauro Pangilinan, city engineer said damages in public buildings reached P25 milpower plant ngayong linggong ito,” it said. Vergara reported that Typhoon Santi damaged a total of P182,819,326.40 in agriculture and infrastructure with 50 agricultural villages hardly hit. This city has 89 barangays.
Several power firms such as Meralco and those from Dagupan City, Angeles City and San Fernando City are extending assistance to fastrack rehabilitation of power in the area. More utilities are still offering lion; schools, P290 million; roads and bridges, P10 million; commercial buildings, P25 million;, residential, P35 million; and utilities, P30 million.
According to CDRRMC, a total of 2,318 residential houses were totally wrecked and 6,791 partially damaged.
A total of 286,758 persons were severely affected by the 185 kph winds of Typhoon Santi that also rendered the 89 barangays of the city without power for six days.
