MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) has ordered all electric cooperatives and distribution utilities to determine the vulnerability of vital facilities to natural calamities through a risk assessment review.
"The Secretary gave me instructions to include all ECs to review geo hazard maps to check if the ECs are in any kind of danger or vulnerability with respect to their infrastructure," Energy Undersecretary Josefina Asirit said.
The DOE has been coordinating with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and electric cooperatives to restore power in Negros Oriental where power lines were affected by the earthquake on Monday.
Asirit said bad weather due to a low-pressure area in Mindanao has delayed the restoration of power, which was originally expected to be back by last Thursday.
She noted that while new power plants have higher thresholds for earthquakes and other disasters, the facilities of electric cooperatives are more vulnerable.
"The vulnerability assessment will make them realize where they are at risk, and what can be done as a stop gap measure. You want to make sure that you have back up areas that you will be able to use in case of emergency," Asirit said.
"At least they will know that they are vulnerable. If there are expansions that are being projected or prepared, that should be taken into consideration, but with respect to moving the lines, that's a different story all together," she said.
Asirit said the department may issue a circular to compel the electric cooperatives to submit their assessment report. "We have yet to circularize that...We started with the coops because they are the most vulnerable...they are the ones closest to consumers," the official said.
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