Electric cooperatives in Bohol have vowed to bring back at least 30% of power in areas battered by Typhoon Odette, according to Governor Art Yap.
Yap told DZRH on Monday that he and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi met with electric cooperatives yesterday, with the Bohol Electric Cooperative (Beheco) vowing to return electricity in some areas by 30% before New Year.
"Ang best bet na pwede nilang maipangako - before New Year, December 31, at least 30% ng Boheco 1 at Boheco 2, yung franchising areas nila, magkakaroon ng panadaliang power. So may rotational blackout pa rin," Yap said.
(The best promise they could offer – before New Year, December 31, at least 30% of Boheco 1 and Boheco 2, their franchising areas will have temporary power. So there will still be rotational blackout.)
And then in the Tagbilaran area, the electric cooperative vowed to bring back at least 50T%, according to Yap.
"Ako naman, I will just accept what I can get. Kung anong ibibigay sakin, tatanggapin ko na rin, at least mag-ooperate yung mga water refilling ngayon," he said.
(For me, I will just accept what I can get. Whatever they give, I will take it as long as water refilling stations could at least operate.)
This is because the province remains "very dependent" on water donations, according to Yap, because water refilling stations in the province remain non-operational due to lack of power.
“We are still very dependent dun sa mga donations ng mga tubig dahil hindi pa rin po nago-operate yung mga water refilling stations dahil hindi pa bumabalik yung power,” he explained.
(We are still very dependent on water donations because water refilling stations are still not operating because power has not returned.)
Meanwhile, the Bohol governor said he has already ordered the provincial health council to be on guard for water-borne diseases.
This came after several people in Siargao Island fell ill due to diarrhea after being forced to drink water from wells.
"Wala po kaming mga reports (ng diarrhea," said Yap. "Pero hindi malayong mangyari 'yan. Kaya pinapabantayan namin sa provincial health office ngayon yung mga water-borne diseases."
(We do not have reports of that yet, but it’s possible that it could happen. That’s why we are asking the provincial health office to be on the lookout for water-borne diseases.)
