‘BACK IN A FLASH’: Iloilo City’s power supply fully restored in less than 24 after TS Odette’s wrath

MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), Iloilo City’s sole power distributor, achieved 100 percent restoration of its services in less than 24 hours after Typhoon Odette’s rampage in the city which damaged 123 poles, electricity lines, and laterals.

As early as 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, MORE Power President Roel Castro declared their operations as back to normal as sub-transmission, feeders, primary, and majority of the secondary lines and laterals were cleared and restored.

“Inuna natin ang sub transmission because these are the lines that feed to the substations. After na clear yun, ang substations natin nag cooperate walang problema. From the substations we go to the feeder that is why may restoration na kaagad of operation. After feeder, we go to the primary lines and from the primary to the secondary because yan na ang papunta talaga sa consumers,” Castro recalled on how they strategized on their fast restoration.

Over the weekend, the remaining works were mostly on the secondary lines that connects to the houses of the consumers.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas could not help but be proud of MORE Power as he specifically commended Castro and his team.

“In so far as Iloilo City is concerned, the performance of MORE Power as a distribution utility company is totally unprecedented. I am very grateful on behalf of the great people of Iloilo City,” said Treñas.

He noted that before when there were calamities, it took several weeks or months that areas of the city be re-energized.

Castro, meantime, was humbled by Treñas statement. He dedicated those commendation most especially to their people in the field whom he described as “really dedicated and very professional in carrying out the job.”

“Although we always work as a team but because of the professionalism ng mga tao natin, dedication to work kaya na achieve natin itong ganitong performance,” Castro said.

But Castro emphasized that all of these was because of the preparations and contingency plans that MORE Power laid out before Odette hit the city.

Castro said the preparation stage helped them identify the possible weak points in the distribution system.

He noted that they conducted simulation on the possible weak points where they concentrated their plans of action.

He said that the logistics and materials they needed in all possible responses were already prepositioned.

MORE Power also hailed its personnel for their sacrifices.

They implemented shifting of duties and were given ample time to rest and take over the shifts.

Castro also cited the leadership of MORE Power engineers who led the responses before, during, and after the storm.

“Efficiency is somehow taken into consideration. And even the meals, we made sure we have provided them. Of course, there are some decisions that we have to make along the way. Importante sa ganitong sitwasyon yung mga senior engineers even all the way to me – nandoon kami sa control center – decisions have to be made fast right there and then para ang mga tao sa field natin can continuously execute para ano ang mga kailangan gawin,” Castro stressed.

MORE Power top honcho believes that the preparations had very good bearing that is why they were able to achieve that performance.

Nevertheless, Castro said that all of these are part of their commitment to public service. They train their people, do capacity building, among others, so their people’s vision will be one and the same with the corporate vision.

Castro also commended their line response team who went out of their way to help a stranded commuter.

He narrated that the team was traversing the Diversion Road in Mandurriao district in the middle of heavy rains and strong winds, when they spotted a call center agent who was waiting for transportation.

They readily gave her a ride to her destination.

“That is not part of the training. But because natutunan na siguro ng mga tao natin ang culture of sense of service of really going beyond what our duties called for. If we will have more people like this, then nakakasiguro tayo, our service will really be part of the DNA of every employee of MORE Power,” Castro proudly said.