Emong, monsoon damage to power lines in Baguio-Benguet reaches P6.8M

BAGUIO CITY — Damage from Typhoon Emong and the southwest monsoon has so far reached P6.81 million as of Thursday morning, with power restoration efforts continuing across Baguio City and Benguet, the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) reported.

Despite torrential rains and strong winds that caused widespread power outages, BENECO said it has restored electricity to 96.4% of households and 98.9% of barangays within its franchise area.

Baguio City having incurred the highest damage costs at P4.53 million, including four primary poles, two transformers, and 11 protective devices, while Benguet losses reached P2.28 million, with 28 poles and six transformers affected.

BENECO added such figures are expected to rise as assessments from more towns are still being finalized.

Major causes of the outages were landslides and falling trees and bamboo damaging power lines. Inaccessible roads further delayed restoration, especially in Benguet and parts of Baguio, as linemen had to wait for government crews to clear debris.

In Baguio City, only a few isolated areas and households remain without power.

“We can now concentrate and send majority of our manpower and heavy equipment and materials needed to Benguet municipalities to fix damages in our backbone lines in Kabayan, Natubleng, and Saddle Atok along Halsema Highway,” said Engineer George Tait of BENECO. — Artemio A. Dumlao