Last 19 December 2021, NEA Administrator Emmanuel Juaneza and Deputy Administrator Artis Nikki Tortola commenced the site visits to the areas affected by Super Typhoon Odette. The purpose of which was to oversee the active restoration measures of Electric Cooperatives (ECs) and the status of each starting with Region 8.

During the 20 December 2021 press conference, Task Force Kapatid (TFK) was reportedly in immediate activation, enabling ECs with normal operations to assist the other ECs affected by Odette. Launched by former NEA Administrator Fr. Francisco Silva in 2002, TFK has been a time-tested cooperation initiative wherein ECs are mobilized to assist each other during the onslaught of natural and man-made calamities like typhoons and earthquakes.

In line with their initiatives, Administrator Juaneza spoke of the importance of cooperation, transparency and urgency among all involved in the power restoration. This pertains to the TFK as well as the proper emergency use of resiliency funds for equipment in restoring power.

From 21 December 2021 to 23 December 2021, he continued highlighting this in succeeding site visits to help facilitate the ECs carrying out the restoration of electricity. The Administrator has visited Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO), as well as Leyte Electric Cooperatives (LEYECO) II, III, IV, and V.

LEYECO V has been fully restored. Together with 7 other EC Task Forces, they are currently enacting TFK in assisting SOLECO, where all 19 of its municipalities are still in need of restoration. Similarly, LEYECO IV still has the electricity of 6 municipalities to restore. This is being advanced by the task forces from LEYECO II, LEYECO III, and BILECO.

The delays in TFK deployment are caused by transportation hurdles. This ranges from the cases of toppled trees to the difficulty in deploying sea vessels. BOHECO I and II, as well as Dinagat Island have been difficult to get to due to land and water routes being damaged by the Super Typhoon.

On 26 December 2021, 15 NEA engineers were deployed along with 5 support staff members. They are to assess damages in the affected areas and acquire commitment from the ECs in restoration time tables.

As of today 27 December 2021, NEA’s DRRM reported that the total cost of damage amounts to P1,854,957,568.59. There had been significant progress in overcoming these damages. Out of 937 municipalities, the electricity of 683 have been fully restored, with 87 municipalities having partially been restored.

NEA shall continue to oversee the TFK activities with site visits, assessment, and directives. In light of restoration and the spirit of cooperation, The General Managers (GMs) present in each site visit thanked the NEA admin for his aid in calamity measures during the preparation, the onslaught, and the aftermath.###