‘Tino’ cuts power to over a million customers

More than one million customers were left without electricity after eight electric cooperatives in the Visayas reported total power loss on Tuesday morning as Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) battered the region.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said power interruptions affected Bantayan Island, Biliran, Cebu, Camotes Island, Eastern Samar, and Leyte.

Initial assessments from the NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department showed that 423 out of 681 municipalities—or 62.11 percent—under the service areas of electric cooperatives remained without power, affecting 3,016 barangays and around 1,073,037 customers.

The agency noted that figures are still subject to change as verification and reporting continue.

NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said the affected cooperatives are working to restore electricity despite harsh weather conditions.

Almeda added that power has improved in the Dinagat Islands and Siargao in the Caraga region after suffering total outages on Monday night.

“We are now monitoring the situation. There is a safety protocol that has to be followed. Line inspection has to be done before electricity can be restored in the substations. So, just a little patience and I hope we are all safe,” Almeda said.

More power lines down

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said it restored two transmission lines in the Visayas and Mindanao but reported new outages in several others.

As of Tuesday morning, the Ormoc–Baybay 69kV line, which serves LEYECO IV and LEYECO V, and the Placer–Madrid 69kV line, supplying SURNECO, SIARELCO, and SURSECO II, have been re-energized.

However, eight other 69kV lines remain unavailable, including the Maasin–Baybay, Ormoc–San Isidro, Maasin–San Isidro, Paranas–Quinapondan, Calongcalong–Asturias, Nabas–Culasi–Bugasong, Amlan–San Carlos, and Bacolod–San Enrique lines.

Affected customers include multiple electric cooperatives in Leyte, Samar, Cebu, Antique, and Negros provinces.

NGCP also reported that five 138kV lines and one 350kV line are currently offline, as strong winds and heavy rains from the typhoon continue to hamper transmission operations.

The grid operator said its line crews have been deployed to conduct patrols and carry out simultaneous restoration works in areas already accessible.