The Philippines Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla promised to restore power in areas devastated by super typhoon Yolanda before December 24, 2013. Aside from the promise he made, he added that he will resign if power isn’t restored in typhoon-ravaged areas by Christmas eve.
Pres. PNoy & Sec. Petilla (Photo by Malacañang Photo Bureau)
The Cabinet member of the Aquino Administration, Energy Secretary Petilla was quoted as saying, “Do you want my position if I don’t make it by December 24? You will have it…. I’ll submit my resignation if that is what you want,” Petilla stated during a media interview in Palo, Leyte on November 18.
Secretary Petilla admitted that December 24 is a “very, very tight” target, but he said he’s betting his position on it by saying that he don’t want survivors to have a “dark Christmas.”
The former of Governor of Leyte was appointed to the cabinet during Aquino’s administration. His brother Dominico Petilla is the current governor of the Province of Leyte, one of the hardest-hit by super typhoon Yolanda.
The Department of Energy clarified that the power restoration target on December 24 doesn’t cover remote barangays, which will surely add more time before electrical power will be restored.
According to the Energy Secretary there are several factors that the December 24 power restoration is feasible because of some factors. First, the highways and roads damaged by the typhoon are now p(–foul word(s) removed–)able. Materials for repairs are also available aside from enough manpower to work on the restoration of power lines.
Based on the latest inspection by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), 566 transmission towers and poles are either leaning or toppled because of the typhoon, while 7 substations are damaged.
