Power has not been restored to one city and three towns in Negros Occidental since Typhoon Odette hit more than a week ago, while electricity has only been partially restored to other local government units.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the whole southern Negros Occidental, especially Sipalay City, was badly affected with 200 main power lines down.
Teams from electric cooperatives in Iloilo and the rest of Negros Occidental are helping restore power in the south, Lacson said.
The issue of one landowner in Ilog not allowing linemen into his property to repair power lines has already been resolved, Lacson said.
He was told it may take a month and a half before power is restored to southern Negros, the governor added.
The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO)said it is working on energizing the hinterland barangays of Calatrava and San Carlos City that will take a week, Lacson added.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said power has not been restored to Sipalay City because all of its three feeders are still unenergized.
Also unenergized are Don Salvador Benedicto, Hinoba-an and Moises Padilla towns because of multiple toppled and leaning power line poles, he said.
Power has been fully restored to Binalbagan, he added.
Power has been partially restored in Bago City, Calatrava, Candoni, Cauayan, EB Magalona, Escalante City, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Manapla, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Sagay City, San Carlos City, San Enrique, Silay City, Talisay City, Toboso, Valladolid and Victorias City, Diaz said.
In Bacolod City, 100 percent of its feeders have been restored but there are some areas where power lines were toppled by the typhoon that still have no electricity, said Malou Parroco, Member Consumers Integrated Services Division head of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO)
Power has not been restored to some areas in barangays Granada and Alangilan in Bacolod City where a lot of typhoon toppled trees fell on power lines, she said.
CENECO and NONECO also stressed that their employees are not accepting payments for the immediate repair of damaged lines and restoration of power.
CENECO linemen are not collecting any fees, repairs are for free, Parroco said.
NONECO employees are not allowed to accept any amount from member-consumers, NONECO also said in an advisory.
It urged the public to immediately report any persons extorting money for the alleged immediate restoration of power.*