DavOr power co-op lost P139M to Pablo

By Anthony S. Allada
Davao Oriental’s electric cooperative has placed the damage caused by Typhoon Pablo to its power lines and posts at P139 million.
Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative (DORECO), which provides power in the entire province, said the damage could still go up once the estimates from damages to its barangay power lines are consolidated.
“This was our over-all assessment on the damage of our backbone lines, but we have still to evaluate those in the barangays,” said Engr. Gregory Dukil, Doreco chief executive officer.
Dukil said that the province was left in total darkness when the typhoon struck at dawn last December 4 and destroyed the main power station in Mati City as well as the two major sub-stations in Baganga and Cateel.
He said that with the help of Aboitiz Power-Davao Light and other nine electric cooperatives, power supply has been gradually restored in Mati City, Banaybanay, Lupon, San Isidro, Tarragona, Manay and Governor Generoso.
“We hope that by December 23, we can also restore power in Caraga, Baganga, Cateel and Boston,” he added.
The cooperative lost P7-million revenue in Baganga and another P5-million in Cateel where they have thousands of connections.
Baganga was the erstwhile top power consuming town in Davao Oriental prior to Pablo.
“But we are optimistic we can recover from this crisis in the months to come. What is more important is for life to go on,” Dukil said.
Aside from restoring the power supply, Dukil’s office is launching Operation Tabang to help typhoon victims.
He said that through Doreco, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), has delivered relief goods to Cateel.