LEGAZPI CITY–Albay Second District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda recognized the “untiring efforts” by power teams from 11 electric cooperatives of the Philippine Rural Electrification Associations Inc., or Philreca Partylist, to help restore electricity in the province.
Super Typhoon Rolly struck Albay province and neighboring areas on All Saints Day, leaving a path of destruction that toppled power lines particularly in the first and third districts, which authorities say may take four to six months to rehabilitate.
Salceda said the Philreca teams now in Albay are composed of 97 linemen from DORELCO, LEYECO II, III, IV, V, BILECO and SOLECO in Leyte and; ESAMELCO, SAMELCO I, SAMELCO II and NORSAMELCO all in Samar province.
"We thank these teams which have pledged to dedicate one month of their time to help restore power in Albay, especially in our most priority facilities such as government, medical and commercial areas. The province’s power supply is being distributed by the Albay Power Electric Corporation, which had its hand full as of late," he said.
The first district is composed of Tabaco City and the towns of Bacacay, Malilipot, Malinao, Santo Domingo and Tiwi, while the third district is composed of Ligao City and the towns of Guinobatan, Jovellar, Libon, Oas, Polangui and Pio Duran.
The second district, which sustained only minimal damage compared to the two other districts, is composed of Legazpi City (Bicol’s regional center) and the towns of Daraga, Camalig, Manito and the island town of Rapu-Rapu.
“I don’t know how we can have a merry Christmas in this situation, but the important thing is, we’re trying to restore normalcy. The moment the storm calmed down, we began clearing operations,” said Salceda in a recent radio interview.
The good news is that displaced families have returned home, the lawmaker said, even as he warned of a new weather disturbance said to be heading for the Bicol area during the week.
“I thank Philreca Partylist Cong. Presley de Jesus for helping us organize these teams that will facilitate power restoration in my province,” said Salceda whose second congressional district office has shouldered the food and other provisions for the linemen, under the #DaDCares program.
Salceda reiterated his appeal for assistance to his district following Rolly’s onslaught, which inflicted about P2.1 billion in damage to infrastructures.
Most of the evacuees here have gone home but their daily needs still have to be sustained, because their incomes have been severely affected, with their farms inundated by flashfloods, he said.
A total of 286 houses were destroyed in his district, with 450 others critically, and 768 substantially. Albay second district has a population of 613,940.
For pledges, please contact: Atty Carol Sabio: 0917 253 8813 Justin Jay Bolanos: 09175788215 / 0923 729 3443 Zaldy Santillan: 0925 852 4174. For cash donations, you may deposit to: TAYO, Inc Metrobank Team Albay Youth Organizations, Inc 595-7-59500460-4 GCASH Cathlea E. Madrona 09561633980 Palawan Express Asher Jade T. Azul 09065910447.
