• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
After enduring the successive blows of Typhoons Tino and Uwan on November 4 and 9, respectively, central Negros is returning to normalcy as Negros Power announced the full restoration of power across its franchise area.
According to a statement, Negros Power reported that 100 percent of all lateral lines have been reenergized, restoring electricity to nearly 250,000 customers – a milestone achieved in remarkably swift fashion considering the scale of destruction left by the two strong storms.
Negros Power operates in the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, and Bago, as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.
The management of Negros Power Management said the collective effort of government officials, barangay leaders, volunteers, augmentation teams, contractors, and most importantly, the company’s linemen and technical crews, made the accelerated restoration of power possible.
“This accomplishment reflects the true Bayanihan spirit,” the statement read, acknowledging how communities and response teams worked hand-in-hand to fast-track recovery operations.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, through a social media post by the Department of Energy, earlier lauded the company’s rapid and coordinated response.
“We commend the Negros Power teams and the resilient communities who have united to restore electricity with extraordinary speed and safety, even in the wake of such devastating storms,” Garin said.
With households and businesses now largely re-energized, communities across Central Negros are already resuming their daily routines.
The swift turnaround, observers say, highlights not only the dedication and skill of linemen on the ground but also the resilience and unity of Negrenses.
Consumer advocate Wennie Sancho, President of the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS), underscored this collective resolve. “In the aftermath of devastation—when Typhoon Tino plunged much of Negros Island into darkness—the people of central Negros rose once again with resilience, unity, and an unshakeable resolve, with the brave men and women of Negros Power at the forefront.
“As a consumer group that monitored these efforts on the ground, ACCESS proudly commends Negros Power for its effective, timely, and compassionate response, Sancho said.*
