THE electricity services in troubled city of Marawi were almost fully restored amid the atrocities of the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Thursday.
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATFSEF) composed of the Department of Energy, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the other industry players moved to secure the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Lasureco) compound.
Through the IATFSEF, the system operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that the Mindanao grid is now under normal operation, he said.
NGCP initially reported a lower electricity demand in Lanao del Sur reaching only 5 megawatts (MW) on Wednesday, which increased to 11 MW Thursday, lower than the usual demand of 17 MW.
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Lasureco reported Thursday that 95 percent of electricity services in Marawi City has been restored, Cusi said.
When the Maute Group started occupying Marawi on Tuesday, blackout hit the city.
Citing the NEA's report, Cusi said the remaining non-operational assets were scheduled to be restored Thursday also.
NEA was also monitoring and awaiting ground data for re-energization of affected towns in the 2nd District of Lanao del Sur, including Wato, Tugaya, Bacolod Kalawi, Madamba, Madalum, Ganasi, Pualas, and Pagayawan, he said.
“We are pooling our resources and seeking assistance from the AFP and the PNP to normalize the security situation, protect our people and secure energy facilities affected by the fighting,” Cusi said.
“We must prioritize the safety of our people, especially those personnel on duty in the energy facilities, and at the same time protect our energy assets," he added.
At the same time, Cusi said an M-79 grenade allegedly fired by the Maute Group landed in the Agus 1 and 2 Hydroelectric Plant Complex located in Lanao del Sur.
With this, he said Palawan Lomondaya, plant manager of the National Power Corp., was planning to shut down one of the unit to preserve station service for Agus 1.
Nevertheless, he said the NPC was continuously mobilizing its technical personnel to ensure the delivery of sufficient supply and to meet the demand of the consumers.
President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in the whole of Mindanao due to the peace and order problem in Marawi City. (SDR/VoxPop Philippines)