By Irish O. Alonzo
TOLOSA, Leyte, June 21 (PNA) – The Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DORELCO) is still awaiting for the national government’s release of funds for the rehabilitation of equipments and office building destroyed by the 2013 super typhoon.
The DORELCO have asked for PHP40 million for the office building reconstruction. With the absence of budget, the cooperative initiated an PHP2 million initial repair last year to restore its operation.
“We prioritized the system before the repair of the office,” said DORELCO general manager Emmanuel P. Saño.
The equipment cost of damage is PHP600 million. DORELCO have already requested the National Electrification Administration (NEA) for fund. About PHP20 million was initially released for the replacement of the information technology facilities.
“DORELCO is totally back on operation regularly except for its online services. Payment system and meter reading are not fully automated, but the equipment rehabilitation is still on-going,” Saño said.
The general manager reported that that 99 percent line coverage has been completed with PHP700 million total cost of damage. Only PHP500 million was downloaded by the national government. Electric cooperatives that assisted DORELCO shouldered other reconstruction costs.
“With the power line, it is now okay, we are now in the damaged equipments. For now, our office does not have the final reconstruction plan yet, we still wait for the government’s assistance,” Saño said
DORELCO is hoping that the national government will release funds within this year for the office building restoration.
DORELCO covers 13 towns in central part of Leyte with around 56,000 power consumers. (PNA)