Cagayan: The Dark Damage of “Lawin”

The devastation of typhoon “Lawin” left the Cagayan Valley region into six days darkness. Cagayan provincial capital, reputed to be the hottest city in the country with temperatures rising to 42 degrees Celsius, has become unbearable to most residents.

The wind strength of “Lawin” prevented the electricity to be restored as it toppled power lines not only in Cagayan but also to its neighbouring provinces like Kalinga, Iloco Norte, Apayao and Isabella.

Lawin destroyed 192 electric posts in areas covering Cagayan, northern Isabela and Kalinga, this is according to the NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines).

It has been six days after the supertyphoon crossed Cagayan province and officials are still struggling to answer as to when they could get electricity back.

Restoring power supply has become the government’s top concern primarily to get the economy running again.

Business establishments that operate using generator sets have been burdened by the additional fuel expenses, which they may end up passing on to their customers.

High demand has also led to a shortage of generator sets.

The administrators of the Tuguegarao International Airport have been swamped with complaints from passengers, who have endured the heat inside the terminal. The terminal’s air conditioner is powered by a single generator set.

Gov. Manuel Mamba said “I would not know how long it would take for the NGCP and the electric cooperatives to bring back power. What is even more glaring is that we have never heard anything from the National Electrification Administration since the typhoon struck. They have been missing in action.”

Even the Office of Civil Defense in Cagayan Valley would not know when power services would be restored. On Monday, the NGCP, which manages the maintenance of main distribution lines that supply electricity to rural electric cooperatives, said it was set to restore power to lines servicing Tuguegarao City up to Cabagan town in Isabela.

There are two electric cooperative in Cagayan: the Cagayan Electric Cooperative (Cagelco) I and II.

Cagelco I covers this city and the towns of Peñablanca, Rizal, Enrile, Iguig, Amulung, Alcala, Solana, Tuao, Piat, Amulung and Baggao. These areas suffered the brunt of Lawin when its 245 kilometer per hour winds snapped power lines and toppled electric posts.

Tito Lingan, Cagelco I general manager, said it may take at least a month before power would be restored on the backbone line of its franchise area.

The areas covered by Cagelco II may take about six weeks to reconnect, said general manager, Gaby Tordesillas.

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