MOPRECO starts power restoration activities

BAGUIO CITY – The Mountain Province Electric Cooperative (MOPRECO) has started restoration activities after Super Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-yi) swept through the Cordillera region, leaving 90 percent of its coverage area without power.

In a social media post Monday morning, the electric cooperative traced the problem to the destruction of power lines and poles due to fallen trees.

"Beginning today, we will mobilize efforts to repair and restore power to the affected areas, ensuring that services are reinstated as quickly and efficiently as possible," it said.

MOPRECO also asked the public to report cases of outages and toppled posts and wires to facilitate swift response.

"The impact of the typhoon on MOPRECO's operations has been severe. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to overcome the impacts of Typhoon Pepito," it added.

As of 11 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) is hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the western portion of Pangasinan (Burgos, Dasol, Sual, Mabini, Binmaley, San Fabian, Dagupan City, Lingayen, Labrador, City of Alaminos, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Agno, Infanta, Bugallon, Mangaldan), and the western portion of Abra (Danglas, Bangued, Langiden, La Paz, Pidigan, San Quintin, San Isidro, Pilar, Peñarrubia, Villaviciosa, Lagayan).

Pepito further weakened into a severe tropical storm and was last traced 270 km. west of Batac, Ilocos Norte, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 110 km. per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 135 kph.

Meawhile, the Mountain Province Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) reported that as of 10:15 a.m. Monday, clearing operations are ongoing at the Sukit section of the Mt. Province-Nueva Viscaya road due to slope collapse with fallen trees and closure of Talubin, Bontoc, Mt. Province.

One lane passable is recorded at K0377 +900; Lat-ey, Samoki, Bontoc; with the Ab-ab section, Bayyon, Bontoc punched through by the Department of Public Works and Highways First District wheel loader.

At the Baguio-Bontoc Road, two lanes are passable at Mt. Data; one lane is passable at the Namatec, Sabangan area; the Malitep, Bontoc part; and two lanes passable at Maba-ay, Bauko, Mt. Province.

Also, one lane is passable at the Pingew, Talubin, Bontoc in Mountain Province part of the Talubin-Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis-Calaccad road junction. (PNA)