Volunteers ease suffering of Ursula-affected folks

Various institutions trooped to northern Panay areas to help ease the suffering of communities devastated by typhoon Ursula on Christmas Day.

Guimaras Electric Cooperative (GUIMELCO) sent eight linemen to Capiz Electric Cooperative, Inc (CAPELCO) as part of the Power Restoration Rapid Deployment (PRRD) Task Force to help restore electricity supply in the Province of Capiz after being hit by the devastating typhoon “Ursula”.

GUIMELCO General Manager Shirley S. Laurente emphasized the urgent need to send linemen to Capiz even though holidays are approaching.

The linemen will be in Capiz until December 31 and another batch of linemen will be sent from January 2 to January 11.

“As public utility provider, it is important that we share our services to our sister electric cooperatives to bring back their electricity before the new year,” Laurente added.

PRRD is an initiative of the One EC Network Foundation through the Philippine Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA).

Meanwhile, Panay Electric Co. personnel led by Marcelo Cacho, head of Public Engagement and Government Affairs, drop off of relief goods and line team assistance in Northern Iloilo.

“Our crews have been kind enough to give up their holidays and dedicate the next several days to helping restore power to the affected areas,” Mr. Cacho said.

The PECO Line Team was assigned to repair and rehabilitate the damaged power lines and poles at Estancia, Iloilo.

Due to PECO’s expertise on complicated repairs, ILECO-3 entrusted PECO Bangon Panay Team to do some heavy works and replace primary poles that were heavily damaged by Typhoon Ursula. The work also needs to be done fast since the area assigned to PECO is the national road of the said municipality.

During its first day alone, PECO Bangon Panay Team has replaced and re-erected multiple primary poles. The team also finished the repair and installation of thousands of meters of primary lines at Estancia, Iloilo

More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE power) also deployed personnel to northern Iloilo to help Iloilo Electric Cooperative III fix distribution lines that were toppled by typhoon Ursula.

The team included electrical engineers, linemen, trucks and equipments, and personnel who distributed relief items to affected residents.

The Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo headed by Administrator Gilbert Valderrama also dispatched its mobile kitchen to provide food to affected residents. (Photos courtesy of GUIMELCO, MORE Power, PECO, and Mr. Gilbert Valderrama)

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