Power Restored in 7 Provinces

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Latest reports from the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) led by the Department of Energy indicated that power has been restored in seven provinces hit by Typhoon Ompong. These are Pangasinan, Batanes, Batangas, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, and Zambales.

After visiting Cagayan on Sunday (16 September), DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi directed Undersecretaries Felix William B. Fuentebella, Alexander S. Lopez and National Electrification Administration(NEA) Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong to attend the Cabinet Briefing for President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Benguet and conduct ground operations and inspections. They were tasked to fully mobilize and monitor the required personnel for the energy family’s response and restoration activities.

Based on the 9:00AM report of the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER):

For the power generation sector, the National Power Corporation (NPC) – Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) reported normal operations as of 4:00AM today in the diesel power plant (DPP) areas of Batanes, (Basco, Itbayat, Sabtang) Isabela and Aurora (Maconacon, Casuguran). Meanwhile, DPPs in Calayan, Minabel & Balatubat, Kabugao, and Palanan are still being assessed.

NPC’s dam status report indicates that water-spilling operations were still on-going at the San Roque Dam, with the end of spilling operations forecasted to take place by Wednesday (19 September) evening.

On the other hand, NPC’s Ambuklao-Binga Flood Forecasting and Warning Service (FFWS) Dam Office has turned over the responsibility of its Spillway Gate Operations to SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet (SNAPB) since Ompong already left the Philippine Area of Responsibility; the accumulated 24-hour rainfall measured is less than 50millimeters; and the inflow at the Ambuklao Reservoir is less than 500 centimeters.

For the transmission sector, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that as of 6:00AM, there is a total of 14 de-energized transmission lines in regions I, II, III, IV-A, VII, and CAR

NGCP also reported that transmission lines in Cagayan and Benguet are partially restored. There are currently on-going restoration activities in Apayao, while transmission facilities in other affected provinces have been normalized.

NGCP is continuing its aerial and ground patrols to inspect and assess the full impact of Ompong on its operations and facilities.

For the distribution sector, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) initially estimates the cost of damage on electric cooperatives (ECs) alone to be at Ph111, 085,986.00.

Eight ECs covering seven provinces have been fully restored, while 14 ECs remain up for restoration.

The regions being served by the following electric cooperatives are affected:

1.             ECs with ongoing restoration:

•     Region I (3 ECs) – INEC (Ilocos Norte), ISECO (Ilocos Sur), LUELCO (La Union with 4.2% restored)

•     Region II (5 ECs) – CAGELCO I and II (Cagayan), ISELCO I (parts of Isabela with 33.3% restored),
ISELCO II (parts of Isabela), NUVELCO (Nueva Viscaya with 14.3% restored)

•     CAR (5 ECs) – BENECO (Benguet), MOPRECO (Mountain Province), ABRECO (Abra), KAELCO
(Kalinga-Apayao), IFELCO (Ifugao)

•     Region III (1 EC) – AURELCO (Aurora with 88.9% restored)

2.             ECs fully restored:

•    Region I (1 EC) – PANELCO I and III (Pangasinan)

•     Region II (2 ECs) – BATANELCO (Batanes), QUIRELCO (Quirino)

•     Region III (2 ECs) – NEECO II-AREA I (Nueva Ecija), ZAMECO I (Zambales)

•     Region IV-A (2 ECs) – FLECO (Laguna), BATELEC II (Batangas)

In the areas served by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), all circuit outages are completely restored.

MERALCO reported that there are still 15,000 to 20,000 customers or 0.23% to 0.30% of its total customers undergoing for restoration which are mostly on service drop or household levels within the franchise area.
 

In the oil industry, monitoring activities of oil companies indicate that as of 12:00PM yesterday (16 September), there is sufficient supply of petroleum products, with stocks ranging from 2 to 15 days, depending on the area.

The DOE reiterates the implementation of a price freeze in Cagayan, Abra, Benguet, Isabela and Mayoyao, Ifugao after said provinces have been put under a State of Calamity. The price freeze covers household LPG and kerosene products, which will be enforced for 15 days upon said announcement.

The DOE continues to assure the public that it remains committed in the monitoring and immediate restoration of power and energy facilities in areas hit by Typhoon Ompong.

A Response to Grab's Statement That the Government is to Blame for the TNVS Supply Crisis

Wazzup Pilipinas!

It has come to the attention of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that GRAB has been sending its members/drivers an e-mail essentially blaming the government for what they call a “supply crisis.”

GRAB claims that the crisis stemmed from the “masterlist” of vehicles allowed to service passengers and the “supply cap” of 65,000. According to GRAB, out of this number, only 35,000 are on the road on a daily basis due to coding, part-time drivers, and other reasons. Further, GRAB is telling its members that the LTFRB has not acted on its proposal to increase the supply cap.

DOTr-LTFRB takes this opportunity to respond to the following issues raised in the email so that all stakeholders may be enlightened and be guided accordingly:

1. The so-called “Masterlist” was determined in consultation with the accredited TNCs at the time namely Grab, Uber and U-Hop, to which Grab conceded. The Masterlist  included Transportation Network Company (TNC) accredited TNVS that have been operating without valid franchises or Provisional Authority (PA), otherwise described are COLORUM vehicles. 

In order not to disrupt service, COLORUM TNVs were allowed to continue to get bookings in the meantime and accept passengers through the Grab system, their inclusion in the Masterlist gives them ‘temporary legitimacy,’ while they are given time to apply for a franchise. With the current number of TNCs servicing the TNVS already operating, among them Hype, Owto, GoLag and Epickmeup, service will not be adversely affected. More, two new TNCs – Hirna and Micab - are servicing the taxi service while several other TNCs whose applications are pending consideration.

2. The number coding scheme, which reduced the number of available cars on the roads of Metro Manila, did not come from LTFRB. In fact, it is the position of the agency that all public transport be exempt from the number coding scheme in order to be able to offer the riding public more public transport options and thus discourage the use of private vehicles.

3. Grab seems to confuse drivers with TNVS in determining supply. LTFRB issues franchises or Provisional Authority (PA) to TNVS for them to legally get bookings and accept passengers. Hence, if a TNVS with a PA or franchise cannot run because it does not have driver, it can find a replacement driver. 

4. Currently, LTFRB is accepting applications for TNVS franchises, even outside the Masterlist, contrary to the statement of Grab that TNVS allowed to apply for a franchise are limited to the Masterlist. In fact, LTFRB has just completed the online registration of 10,000 new cars in addition to the Masterlist, with plans to open registration for TNVS applicants for those slots in the masterlist which have become inactive.

We note Grab sharing its position on these issues in public notwithstanding the frequent, open and cordial dialogue with TNCs, including Grab. It makes us wonder however why Grab puts LTFRB on the spot, so to speak and in an uncomfortable position. As DOTr and LTFRB seek ways to expedite to complete the target of 65,000 TNVS with the required franchises, it is to Grab’s best interest to engage its own constituency and help clarify the issues.

Bayanihan Key to Effective Disaster Response in Typhoon Ompong Hit Areas

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A day after typhoon Ompong made a landfall in the province of Cagayan, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade reported to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that the restoration and rehabilitation efforts of the DOTr in all affected airports, seaports and terminals are now underway.

 

During the Presidential Briefing held at the Cagayan Provincial Capitol today, 16 September 2018, Secretary Tugade estimates around PhP35 to 40 Million worth of damages incurred in infrastructure alone, primarily in Tuguegarao Airport.

 

Immediately after Ompong’s landfall, the Transportation Chief inspected Tuguegarao Airport, and found out that the baggage carousel area and other offices of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) were badly damaged. Meanwhile, the runway, ramp and other navigational equipment are all functional. Secretary Tugade said it will take until Tuesday for the Baggage X-ray scanner to be repaired or replaced.

 

While rehabilitation works are ongoing, Secretary Tugade requested from the public their patience and understanding. 

“Manu-mano po muna tayo sa pag inspeksyon ng mga bagahe kasi X-ray scanner ang nasira. Importante po iyan para sa security ng mga sasakay na pasahero pero gagawan po natin iyan ng paraan”, said Secretary Tugade.

 

The Transportation Chief likewise noted that there is a proposal to utilize Lal-lo and Cauayan Airport in case repairs at the Tuguegarao Airport will take longer than expected, with Point to Point buses to address inconvenience.

 

Meanwhile, reports coming in from Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) confirm that all seaports in the Northern Luzon area such as Curimao, Aparri, Batanes, Salomage and Sual among others reported no damage and are now operational.

 

Land transportation also immediately resumed leaving all bus terminals with a few to none stranded passengers.

 

Importance of Bayanihan and Pre-emptive Information

Amid adversity brought by Ompong, Secretary Tugade highlighted the importance of teamwork or “Bayanihan”. 

Tugade was tasked by President Duterte to oversee the planning, preparation and rehabilitation in Cagayan, the Secretary’s hometown.

 

It can be recalled that Secretary Tugade, along with DOLE Secretary Slvestre Bello III and Presidential Legal Adviser Francis Tolentino, prompted a regional command conference to adequately prepare the local government with the impending disaster.

 

“Mr. President, the decision to send us here is a very wise decision. Malaki po ang impact nito sa morale ng local government at ng mga tao kasi alam nilang nandito ang national government, naniniwala at sumusunod ang mga tao. Kahit nandiyan ang banta ng bagyo, laban lang kasi andito tayo”, Sec. Tugade said.

The DOTr Chief visited various evacuation centers in Cagayan where he was reunited with a relative from Claveria town. Though he empathizes with the plight of those who have to leave their homes, the secretary said it is the only way to value life and avoid casualties in times of disaster.

 

Secretary Tugade said, “Dapat ho ang evacuations centers natin kumpleto sa mga kagamitan at secured din.”

 

Secretary Tugade added the importance of pre-emptive information which was proven to be very helpful. He believes that if the public will be bombarded with timely information, they can efficiently organize themselves to safety.

 

“Silipin natin iyong anunsyo. How do we communicate? We care for our people and we want to save lives. Iyong compliance and obedience ng civilian population, iba ho. Sana iyong experience na ganyan can be replicated”, Secretary Tugade said.

 

Further, the private sector also extended their help. Local carriers such as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines instantaneously offered a missionary flight which will enable rescue and relief operations reach Tuguegarao and other nearby provinces. Bus companies and other organizations offered the use of their vehicles to transport relief goods to affected areas.