SAN CARLOS CITY–Still in the dark.

      More than two weeks after typhoon Cosme hit the province, about 70 to 80 percent of the affected areas in central and western Pangasinan are still without electricity.

The Central Pangasinan Electric Corporation (Cenpelco), sole distributor of electricity in the central part of the province, said it will take some time to restore electricity in its service areas as 75 to 80 percent of its distribution system was damaged by the typhoon.

The total damages in 14 towns and one city being serviced by Cenpelco is estimated at P60 million with 1,300 electric posts, some 500 of which are serving primary lines, toppled by ‘Cosme’. 

The felled posts and cut power lines are now being restored by a task force formed by Cenpelco in partnership with various electric cooperatives deployed in the area bythe National Electrification Administration (NEA).Cenpelco said on Thursday that it managed to restore electricity in poblacion areas of all affected towns, including San Carlos City, after restoring all its backbone lines.

Josefina Mandapat, Cenpelco general manager, said mopping up operations are being conducted in all lateral lines to restore electricity in some 500 affected barangays.

 She said the backbone lines located in the poblacion areas will radiate to the lateral lines to light up the barangays.

However, priority is given to the less damaged areas since these are easier to restore.

Mandapat admitted that considering the magnitude of destruction, additional funds would be needed to finance the full restoration program. She said Cenpelco’s board of directors held an emergency meeting and passed a resolution asking NEA to provide subsidy or even a calamity loan to enable the cooperative to finish its restoration works. 

Cenpelco is keeping pace with the restoration works being undertaken by the National Transmission Commission (TransCo) in central Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Dagupan Electric Corporation (Decorp) already restored electricity in most parts of the city, except some parts in the Bonuan district and the island barangays.

Only the poblacion areas and a few barangays have so far been energized in all the service areas of Decorp, like in San Fabian, San Jacinto, Manaoag, Sta. Barbara and Calasiao as of last Friday.—LM

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