A PHILIPPINE senator on Thursday called on the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to ensure electric cooperatives comply with national standards and assessments on supplying enough power around the country during natural disasters such as typhoons.
In a statement, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who is the vice-chairperson of the committee on energy, said NEA should strictly enforce the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund (ECERF) law, which requires cooperatives to conduct risk assessments and emergency response plans during these calamites
“The ECERF was put in place as a ready fund that can be tapped by electric cooperatives or faster restoration of electricity and power facilities damaged by natural calamities,” he said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday said Kong-rey, locally named Leon, has strengthened into super typhoon as it moved closer to Batanes province in northern Philippines.
NEA earlier sought P200 million to implement ECERF next year to ensure the steady supply of power generated by co-ops.
“Given that the Philippines is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change risks and natural disasters, ECs need to develop their resilience to prevent power interruption or at least shorten the period of such incidents during and after calamities,” said Mr. Gatchalian, the main author of the ECERF law. —John Victor D. Ordoñez
