The DoE task force has already restored power supply in 69 towns and cities battered by Ursula.

ENERGY Secretary Cusi moves resolutely. YUMMIE DINGDING@tribunephl_yumi

Noting the importance of electricity in providing basic public services particularly during emergency responses, Department of Energy (DoE) officials and personnel spent Christmas Day ensuring that power was quickly restored to areas affected by typhoon “Ursula” which battered Visayas and Luzon regions since Tuesday.

Under Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the DoE has adopted the practice of instantly responding during disasters, through its Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) — wasting no time in restoring power lines even during holidays unlike in the previous administrations when bringing back electricity took weeks, if not months.

Along with DoE, other government and private agencies such as the National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Power Corp, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, and distribution utilities were mobilized to put energy back on line in areas hardest hit by the severe weather disturbance.

As of yesterday, the DoE task force has already restored power supply in 69 towns and cities battered by “Ursula.” (See related story on Page B15)

A total of 34 electric cooperatives in 20 provinces from five regions were affected by power interruption.

DoE personnel continued to work double-time to ensure availability of power in other areas affected by “Ursula.”

Cusi cited the selfless commitment of the hardworking men and women of DoE who were ready to perform the tasks even during disasters and holidays, like Christmas Day.

“We ask our people to sacrifice their vacation in order to restore the electricity services to every household affected by the typhoon by 31 December,” Cusi said.

“We want our hospitals, banks and vital government facilities provided with electricity. Our services are needed by our people,” he added.

Prior to the onslaught of “Ursula,” DoE personnel were also deployed to restore power to areas affected by typhoon “Tisoy.”

Of the 8,450 barangays from 312 towns and cities affected by “Tisoy,” the NEA has already restored power in 7,114 villages.

A total of 2,547,893 households lost electricity due to “Tisoy” but as of Thursday, NEA has already brought back power to 2,194,757 or 88.07 percent restoration rate.

According to NEA, it faced challenges in restoring power in the areas covered by Albay Electric Cooperative and Camarines Sur 3 Electric Cooperative while focus is also exerted for Ticao Island Electric Cooperative and Marinduque Electric Cooperative.

The NEA estimated the damages caused by “Tisoy” to electric cooperatives at a total of P909,331,814.24.