Around 4,000 households in northern Cebu have been identified for total rehabilitation or repair after sustaining severe structural damage from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the province on September 30, 2025, the Cebu II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEBECO II) reported.
‘Before we can energize these homes, we need to secure clearance from the Office of the Building Official of each municipality. We will not reconnect power unless the structure is inspected and declared safe,’ said Lowell Belciña, CEBECO II general manager, during the Kapihan sa PIA7 forum yesterday.
Belciña said the cooperative is prioritizing safety inspections to prevent electrical hazards in quake-damaged homes.
He assured that power delivery across northern Cebu remains stable, provided there is consistent supply from generation companies and transmission lines maintained by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
‘There’s no problem with the delivery of power as long as generation and transmission systems are stable,’ Belciña said.
To ease the financial burden on affected consumers, Belciña announced that CEBECO II’s Board of Directors has waived surcharges for electricity bills in quake-hit areas for the September 2025 billing.
‘We understand the situation of our consumers. For those unable to pay their September bills, which were due in October, we will not impose penalties or surcharges,’ he said.
Belciña said CEBECO II, which serves 11 towns and two cities from Compostela to Daanbantayan, was among the cooperatives directly affected by the quake. The tremor initially caused a total blackout across its service areas due to transmission disruptions at NGCP facilities.
‘By 4 a.m. on October 1, our engineers and linemen were already deployed to assess the damage. We prioritized hospitals, water systems, and LGUs to ensure the continuity of essential services,’ he added.
By October 5, CEBECO II had fully restored electricity in all barangays within its franchise area. However, households located in no-build zones will remain disconnected until they receive safety clearance.
‘As long as households are cleared and ready to receive power, we are also ready to reconnect them,’ Belciña assured.
The cooperative reported a total of 86 electric poles and 16 transformers damaged across its coverage area.
‘Our total damage count is 86 poles and 16 transformers within our coverage area. Many of these have already been replaced, and those found structurally sound during inspection were reinstalled and reenergized,’ he said.
Belciña noted that the extent of damage was minimal compared to Typhoon Yolanda, allowing restoration to be completed swiftly and with limited service interruption.
Meanwhile, Engr. Marcelino Bagatsolon, Senior Manager for Operations and Maintenance of NGCP Cebu-Bohol Area, assured that power transmission in northern Cebu remains stable and manageable despite the quake’s impact.
Bagatsolon said the Visayas grid interconnection continues to play a key role in maintaining stability and reliability during emergencies.
‘From Daanbantayan down to Danao, we encountered no problems in power delivery. The grid remains flexible and interconnectable, which allows us to assist nearby areas such as Bohol,’ he said.
Through this interconnected network, NGCP can help supply power to Bohol via transmission lines from Argao to Maribojoc, ensuring energy resources can be shared across regions when needed.