TASK FORCE KAPATID TEAMS IN CAGAYAN TO RESTORE POWER AMIDST TYPHOON NIKA

By: Laarni Ilagan

BE SAFE. (Upper Photo) The 11-man team of BENECO’s Task Force traveled to Cagayan at 5 am today. GM Melchor Licoben met them before departure and wished for their safety and inspired work. (BENECO File Photo)

The 11-man Task Force sent by BENECO to help restore power in Cagayan is now working in Ballesteros town.

“Nagpigsa tudo. Ngem haan nga continuous, isu nga maka trabaho tayo ladta” (The rain is torrential at the moment, but not continuous.  We can still work during the spells when it stops),” according to Percival Aspillan, team leader. The team left Baguio City early morning of Sunday.

The town of Ballesteros in Cagayan is one of the municipalities of the province that was hit hard by Marce, prompting the Cagayan Electric Cooperative, Inc. II to call for help from sister electric cooperatives to send their respective Task Force Kapatid (TFK). The team started working today.

“Our first assignment is the municipality of Ballesteros. We are replacing broken poles and conducting correction of leaning primary poles of CAGELCO II’s backbone lines downed by Marce,” Aspillan, an engineer, said.

Aspillan reported the status of the team in a mobile phone conversation. Aspillan also led BENECO’s task forces that were sent before to Abra, Albay, Catanduanes, and Leyte.

The BENECO team brought its own equipment, gasoline, food, first aid kits, and other necessary logistics needed for their 15-day stay in the province.

The BENECO team is part of the TFK along with nearby ECs: Isabela (ISELCO 1 and 2) Nueva Vizcaya (NUVELCO), and Quezon (QUIZELCO) who heeded CAGELCO II’s call for help.

The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA). coordinated the formation of the TFK. (LSI)