Power and communication infrastructure destroyed by typhoon “Odette” are expected to be restored within this year, officials said on Tuesday,
In an interview over Dobol B TV, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) spokeswoman Cynthia Perez-Alabanza said transmission services in Mindanao would be restored as early as Christmas Day.
She said a total of 12 towers and 600 steel poles were deactivated during the onslaught of “Odette.”
Most of these are in Cebu, Bohol and Leyte, she said.
“Sa Cebu, Leyte, tsaka Bohol medyo matatagalan ‘yan at wala pa kaming maiibigay na restoration schedule,” the NGCP spokeswoman said.
Acting Information and Communications Secretary Emmanuel Caintic said communication lines in areas hit by “Odette” could be restored before the year ends.
“Siguro, optimistically mga a week pero pipilitin namin na mas maaga…Honest assessment, siguro before the year ends,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier instructed the Department of Energy and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to “work double time” to restore power in areas severely hit by the typhoon. John Ezekiel J. Hirro