(Taguig City). Despite having 92% status of restored households in Typhoon Nina affected areas, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi directed the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the involved electric cooperatives to complete restoration of power facilities as soon as possible.

The Secretary made the statement today upon learning about the latest report of Camarines Sur III Electric Cooperative’s (CASURECO III) slow movement in its restoration efforts.

“We cannot accept CASURECO III’s restoration status at 34% only following all of the combined efforts of the government and the private sector for restoring damages brought by Typhoon Nina,” Sec. Cusi emphasized.

Sec. Cusi underscored that “We want to determine the root cause of the delay in restoration, thus I wanted NEA through Admin. Ed Masongsong to take over the restoration efforts in CASURECO III covering Camarines Sur's Rinconada area.”

In a recent coordination efforts by the DOE, NEA Administrator Masongsong committed to create Task Force Rinconada to take over the restoration efforts in CASURECO III.

Sec. Cusi relayed that Admin. Masongsong already recalled the Project Manager and informed the Board of CASURECO III of the “NEA takeover" which will be implemented this February.

Other areas that the Secretary wanted to focus on are the hard-hit provinces of Catanduanes and Marinduque under the franchises of First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative (FICELCO) and Marinduque Electric Cooperative (MARELCO), respectively.

Sec. Cusi required an assessment on how the Department of Energy (DOE) and its partner institutions in the power sector can assist these off-grid areas considering the difficulty on accessibility and logistics to the said areas.

"Some island provinces like Catanduanes and Marinduque are not connected to the three main grids (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids) and restoration efforts might entail a different kind of approach."

It can be recalled December last year that Sec. Cusi instructed the power sector participants of the January 31 deadline for all the restoration pertaining to Typhoon Nina damages.

Sec. Cusi extends his gratitude for the dedication of Task Force Kapatid industry partners, specifically the volunteer linemen and engineers, who assisted the victims of the typhoon even during the holidays just to restore power to affected households.

Sec. Cusi concluded that “The DOE and the energy family is strongly committed to complete energy restoration to help the victims of the recent calamities.”

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