BENECO sends help to restore power in typhoon-hit areas in Cagayan and Apayao

Cagayan, Philippines – Typhoon Marce which battered Cagayan and Apayao last week has left a massive power outage in the two provinces.

Marce first made landfall in Santa Ana, Cagayan around 3:40 p.m. on November 7 before it made another landfall in Sanchez Mira around 9:00 p.m. of the same day, placing the northern portion of Cagayan and Apayao under signal number 4.

Due to torrential rains and heavy winds, power lines in many areas in Cagayan and Apayao went out, prompting the Cagayan Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO) to call for help from its sister electric cooperatives for additional manpower through the Task Force Kapatid.

Heeding the call, the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) sent an 11-man team on Sunday, November 10, to Cagayan to help restore lines, particularly in Abulug, Aparri West, and Ballesteros in Cagayan and Flora, Luna, Pudtol, and Sta. Marcela in Apayao,

Despite the effects of another typhoon, Nika, which hit Northern Luzon on Monday, November 11, the BENECO linemen and personnel continue to work on the lines in Ballesteros, Cagayan.

Team Leader, Engr. Percival Aspillan relayed they replaced broken poles and conducted correction of leaning primary poles of the CAGELCO II backbone lines.

CAGELCO II targets to restore power at the municipal level by November 15, barangay level by November 22, and restore household power by November 25.