The Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) convened a meeting with its members from the energy family and private energy companies to discuss the preparedness measures and emergency response protocols to ensure sufficient and reliable supply of power and oil during and after the passage of Tropical Cyclone Odette.
The power sector has activated its respective Contingency Plans, Business Continuity Plans, and Emergency Response Protocols. In their report to the Task Force, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will preposition their Quick Response Teams and critical line hardware in strategic locations for easy dispatch, clear hazardous vegetation along the power lines, and ensure the availability of critical equipment for the restoration of affected transmission lines. Likewise, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) advised all the electric cooperatives (ECs) to prepare by activating their Contingency Plans and Emergency Response Organization (ERO) accordingly for the quick restoration of electric services in their respective franchise areas, while the concerned power generation companies and utilities are also closely coordinating with NGCP to ensure sufficient supply during the passage of ODETTE.
The Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) of DOE reported a sufficient level of inventory of finished petroleum products (including in-transit volume) equivalent to 31.2 days to cover the fuel requirements in the affected regions.
Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella, TFER Chairperson, also advised NEA and PHILRECA to prepare for the possible activation of the Task Force Kapatid that may be deployed for the ECs that will require power restoration assistance. “Everyone should be on the same page in terms of our preparations and action plans. Let us make all the necessary preparations and mitigating measures for the potential impact of ODETTE.”
Based on PAGASA’s forecast as of 11:00 AM on 15 December 2021, the center of Typhoon “ODETTE” {RAI} is located at 500 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur in Mindanao with a maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center, gustiness up to 150 km/h. TY “ODETTE” will begin moving westward over the Philippine Sea on Wednesday afternoon and may make landfall in the vicinity of CARAGA or Eastern Visayas by Thursday (16 December) afternoon or evening, cross Central Visayas by Friday morning (17 December) before heading to Northern Palawan.
Based on the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) of NDRRMC as of 13 December 2021, the following are the approved Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) protocols for the Regions that may be affected and their corresponding risk classifications:
• HIGH RISK: MIMAROPA, VI, VII, VIII, X, XII, CARAGA (CHARLIE)
• MEDIUM RISK: I, II, CALABARZON, V, IX, XI, BARMM (BRAVO)"
• LOW RISK: III (ALPHA)
• No to Very Low Risk: NCR, CAR (Standby)
All power and oil utilities located in the identified risk areas are advised to prepare their contingency plans and emergency response measures. The energy sector command centers have been activated to closely monitor the effects of tropical cyclone ODETTE.
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