Power Struggles in the Wake of a Monster Storm: NGCP Reports Partial Recovery for Two Visayas Transmission Lines
By Joann Villanueva
November 5, 2025, 9:57 am
MANILA – Picture this: homes plunged into darkness, businesses grinding to a halt, and communities left scrambling as a ferocious typhoon tears through the landscape. That's the harsh reality facing residents in the Visayas right now, thanks to Typhoon Tino – known internationally as Kalmaegi – and its devastating impact on the region's power infrastructure. But don't worry, we're diving into the details to keep you informed and, hopefully, a little less in the dark.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has shared some encouraging updates in their latest report. As of Tuesday night, two key transmission lines that were battered by the typhoon have been partially brought back to life. These vital links carry electricity across the grid, and for beginners wondering what that means, think of them as the highways of the power system – without them, energy can't flow smoothly to homes and businesses. The first one is the Ormoc-San Isidro 69kV line, which powers up several electric cooperatives in the area: Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DORELCO), Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative Inc. (SOLECO), Leyte III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO III), LEYECO V, and Biliran Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BILECO). The second is the Ormoc-Baybay 69kV line, dedicated to serving LEYECO IV. This partial energization means some power is trickling back, but it's not full strength yet – a reminder of how resilient yet fragile our grids can be.
And this is the part most people miss: while two lines are inching toward recovery, eight others are still completely out of commission as of 9 a.m. Wednesday. These include several 69kV lines crucial for local supply. For instance, the Maasin-Baybay Line supports LEYECO IV, the Calongcalong-Asturias Line feeds Cebu III Electric Cooperative (CEBECO III), the Compostela-Consolacion Line provides for CEBECO II, the Bacolod-San Enrique Line serves Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO), and the San Jose-Bugasong 69kV Line caters to Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO). On top of that, NGCP also mentioned that two 138kV lines and one 230kV line remain unavailable, though they didn't offer more specifics – leaving us all wondering about the full extent of the damage.
But here's where it gets controversial: As NGCP ramps up efforts, with crews mobilized for patrols and restoration work kicking off in accessible spots, questions arise about preparedness. Is our reliance on a centralized grid making us too vulnerable to natural disasters like this? Critics might argue that more investment in decentralized, renewable energy sources – think solar panels on homes or community microgrids – could buffer against such outages. For example, in places like Germany or parts of the U.S., they've seen success with these systems during storms, reducing downtime. Yet, others contend that upgrading the existing infrastructure is the fastest path forward. What do you think – are we betting too heavily on the status quo, or is innovation the key to a storm-proof future?
According to the weather bureau's 8 a.m. bulletin, Typhoon Tino's eye is currently positioned over the coastal waters near El Nido in Palawan, churning westward at a steady 25 km/h. It's packing maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near its center, with gusts reaching up to 165 km/h – a force that underscores the challenges NGCP faces in full restoration. As the situation evolves, we'll keep you posted.
Let's discuss: Do you believe NGCP's response is swift enough, or should there be more accountability for power vulnerabilities in disaster-prone areas? Share your opinions in the comments – agreement or disagreement, we're all ears! (PNA)
