BENECO RESTORES POWER IN BUYACAOAN AND ABATAN BUGUIAS

Pictures were taken on Tuesday, (June 6, 2023) at Upper, Bekkes to Abatan Junction in Buguias. Photo by: LSI

ABATAN, BUGUIAS – (July 7, 2023) Two teams composed of 15 linemen worked fast to finish the diversion of some communal transformers from Circuit 4 to Sinipsip Substation (Circuit 6) to restore power to parts of Buyacaoan and Abatan, Buguias, yesterday.

The team is led by Construction and Maintenance Officer Engr. Roy Olatic.

Circuit 4 is part of the affected areas by the typhoon Betty-damaged Bulalacao, Mankayan Substation that rendered the town of Mankayan and parts of Buguias without power.

Praying for continuing good weather, Network Services Department (NSD) OIC department manager Engr. Mario Calatan said, BENECO will be able to already restore electricity in these two areas where the Northern Benguet District Hospital and the Municipal Hall are located.

The Bulalacao Substation serves Circuit 5 (Mankayan) and Circuit 4 (Buguias).

The damage to the Bulalacao Substation raised the cost of Typhoon Betty’s damages suffered by BENECO to more than P5.8 million as of June 5, 2023

BENECO earlier assured the MCOs in the area that as long as the weather is under normal conditions during the transport to its testing and commissioning of the Bulalacao substation transformer replacement, the expected restoration of power will be by June 15, 2023.

“The ISECO Board during their meeting approved the request of BENECO for the rental of the 10 MVA power transformer. BENECO has mobilized its equipment to haul the transformer from ISECO to Mankayan and is expected to arrive soon. It will take BENECO five days to install and commission the transformer upon delivery, however, it will depend on the weather condition,” Engr. Artemio Bacoco, Acting General Manager said.

“If all the testing and commissioning is successful then the transformer will be energized. Hence, the power supplying  the two municipalities  including some parts of Cervantes will be completely energized,” Bacoco explained further.**LSI