800,000 homes still without power

Despite ongoing restoration efforts nationwide, roughly 800,000 households and businesses are still without power after typhoons “Tino” and “Uwan,” with four million of the 4.8-million affected customers already reconnected.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said Monday that teams were working around the clock to restore reconnections safely within the month.
“We are ramping up power restoration and have made significant progress with four million households energized. With safety and building better as our top priorities, our Energy Family teams continue to work 24/7 in the aftermath of Tino and Uwan,” Garin said.
Power generation facilities, including Sabangan Hydroelectric, GIFTC2 Biomass, Morong Solar, and FLS Hydroelectric plants, are now back online. At the same time, key transmission lines in Catanduanes — Virac-Codon, Virac-San Miguel and San Miguel-Viga — have also been fully restored.
Hospitals, infirmaries, primary care facilities, and 47 of 48 pumping stations are operational.
Private distribution utilities in Luzon and the Visayas have largely resumed service.
In Luzon, power has been fully restored to customers of La Union Electric, Olongapo Electricity Distribution, Angeles Electric, and Tarlac Electric. In the Visayas, Mactan Electric, More Electric and Power Corp., Bohol Light Co. and Bacolod City’s NEPC have completed restoration.
The Department of Energy (DoE) said some areas were still pending full reconnection. Dagupan Electric is now 99.6-percent energized, Casureco IV on Quinalasag Island is at 84.6-percent restored, Visayan Electric Co. is at 97 percent, while Negros Electric & Power Corp. is at 92.2 percent. The utilities are aiming for full restoration by the end of November.
“The rapid, safe and complete restoration of power services remains our highest priority. Our teams will remain on the ground until every affected household is reconnected to safe and reliable electricity,” Garin said.
Meanwhile, the latest government assessment showed that the recent typhoons caused combined agricultural damage and losses estimated at P4.13 billion, affecting more than 84,000 farmers and fisherfolk nationwide.
The storms affected crops, livestock, fisheries and farm infrastructure, resulting in production losses of 19.15 million metric tons across 43,882 hectares.
Initial regional assessments in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western, Eastern, and Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga put the damage to key sectors — rice, corn, high-value crops, cassava, coconut, and poultry — at P968.16 million, affecting nearly 50,000 farmers with production declines of 37,741 metric tons over 17,886 hectares.
Authorities cautioned that the figures are still being validated and that further losses may be reported.
