By Michelle Ducut
An 11-man team from the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) has been dispatched to Cagayan Valley to assist in restoring electricity to areas affected by Typhoon Marce (Yinxing). The team’s mission is to repair the backbone electric lines damaged by the typhoon and help restore power to residential consumers.
Laarni Ilagan, Beneco’s Corporate Communications media relations officer, reported that the team began their 15-day humanitarian work on Monday, despite the rains brought on by Typhoon Nika (international name Toraji).
The team’s first assignment is in Ballesteros, one of the most affected municipalities in Cagayan Valley. Ilagan explained that the team was deployed as part of “Task Force Kapatid” (Sibling), a program reactivated by the National Electrification Administration to support the restoration of power in the service area of Cagayan Electric Cooperative II (Cagelco II). Other cooperatives, such as Isabela Electric Cooperative, Nueva Vizcaya Electric Cooperative, and Quezon Electric Cooperative, are also lending support.
“We are replacing broken poles and correcting leaning primary poles of Cagelco II’s backbone lines that were downed by Marce,” said Percival Aspilan, Beneco’s team leader.
Despite the ongoing effects of Typhoon Nika in the region, Ilagan emphasized that the deployment of the team would not affect Beneco’s resources. “Task Force Kapatid is our way of helping our Filipino brothers and sisters get back to their normal lives,” she added.