MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY – Bohol 1st district representative Bohol Edgardo Chatto told Visayan Electric representatives that he looks forward to more partnerships with Aboitiz in the future and thanked the Aboitiz Group for their support after the Visayan Electric utility crews helped bring stable power back to many homes and businesses in Bohol Province.
“They say that adversities bring out the best
and worst in people. This collaboration between electric cooperatives is very
much appreciated as it displayed Bayanihan and immediate response to power
consumers. We are very thankful to
Aboitiz and Visayan Electric for helping us in these difficult times through
their quick response in restoring our damaged power lines Chatto said.
Earlier news reports stated that agriculture suffered the brunt of the typhoon, with damaged pegged at over P3 billion as of the end of December 2021. The tourism sector, which is considered the island’s bread and butter, also incurred losses estimated at around P430 million as of January this year.
Chato pointed out that power is vital to development since many industries that economic growth is hinged on require stable electricity, including agriculture and tourism. Power sufficiency in Bohol is a game-changer in terms of opportunities for growth, he added.
Chatto said that more than six months since the devastating typhoon, Bohol is regaining momentum with businesses and the tourism sector thriving once again.
Visayas Electric president and COO Raul Lucero
said, “Whether we were on the giving or receiving end of assistance in the
aftermath of Odette, one thing was clear, one can go far alone but can go
farther with the help of others.
This came on the heels of the Cebu-based Visayan Electric’s deployment of augmentation crews to help with power restoration in two Bohol towns in June, which Lucero emphasized the benefits of synergy among various sectors.
To recall, Visayan Electric, an AboitizPower subsidiary sent two groups of 10 linemen to the towns of Buenavista and Getafe, the team was there from April 21 to June 3.
These towns had gone almost five months without stable electricity, with a few far-flung villages experiencing darkness for much longer. Local utilities had to implement power rationing during this period.
Lucero said, this was the company’s way of paying forward from the help Visayan Electric received from other distribution utilities during its time of need.
The next logical step would be to explore other areas of cooperation. This can include, among others, sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices between distribution utilities and electric cooperatives across neighboring provinces to respond better in future emergencies, he added.
Lucero also pointed out that work goes beyond the mandate of electric utilities, and that preparedness and resilience are things all sectors must work together to achieve.
In the light of the progress made by affected communities after the onslaught of super typhoon Odette last year, Visayan Electric Co. (Visayan Electric) is highlighting the opportunity for further collaboration toward a more resilient future.
Visayan Electric Company Inc. is the second-largest electric utility in the Philippines. It serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, Naga, and four municipalities of the greater part of Metro Cebu - Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla, and San Fernando. Its franchise service covers an area of about 674 square kilometers with an estimated population of 1.73 million.
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