HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday lauded energy officials for the swift restoration of power lines and electricity distribution systems affected by Typhoon Bising (international name Surigae) in Eastern Visayas.
Romualdez, who chairs the House Committee on Rules, said power supply is very important to run life-saving equipment in hospitals, ensure uninterrupted online education and keep people connected from their work and public services while observing stay at home policy during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.
He commended Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Agnes Devanadera and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for responding immediately when he called their attention last Sunday morning about power disruption.
“I commend the swift action of ERC chairperson Devanadera and the NGCP in restoring power in the affected areas in Eastern Visayas. Many lives have been saved in the hospitals and helped lessen the burden of our medical frontliners by their prompt action,” said Romualdez after power in Eastern Visayas resumed last Monday.
Typhoon Bising displaced thousands of residents when it blew fierce winds and dumped heavy rains in Eastern Visayas, resulting to power loss in Tacloban City, Babatngon and Palo in Leyte; Saint Bernard, Libagon, San Juan, Pintuyan, Silago, San Francisco, San Ricardo, Anahawan and Hinundayan in Southern Leyte; and the whole province of Eastern Samar.
“With their medical equipment relies on electricity, power interruption or even unstable power supply affect doctors and first responders’ response in treating sick people,” Romualdez explained.
“It has been a challenging year to education sector. We do not want power outages become an additional problem to our educators who have been commendably doing their part of ensuring that students are still attending their virtual classes,” Romualdez stressed, adding that employees under the work-from-home scheme are also affected during brownouts.
To help win the war against COVID-19 pandemic, Romualdez also underscored the importance for concerned officials to always ensure a reliable, steady and affordable energy supply to keep people at home.
“It’s really important that people are always connected to continue communicating with public services while staying at home during pandemic,” Romualdez said.
