By CESAR JOLITO III
Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has called on major utility providers to expedite the restoration of electricity and water supply in the city following widespread service disruptions caused by Typhoon “Tino.”
In a coordination meeting with officials of the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) on Tuesday, November 11, Benitez sought immediate solutions to persistent power outages affecting several barangays.
Negros Power President and CEO Roel Castro and Vice President Maricel Pe briefed Benitez on ongoing repair operations and the company’s commitment to fully restore power by Sunday, November 16.
Benitez emphasized the urgency of restoring electricity, particularly to the 12 deep wells of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. that remain without power, as this directly affects the city’s water supply.
“Electricity is essential not just for households but also for utilities like our water systems. We need to work together so areas with heavy obstructions can be prioritized for immediate restoration,” Benitez said.
According to NEPC, restoration work is being conducted from the main power source down to distribution posts, with 73 areas affected by vegetation obstructions and 12 areas hampered by other physical barriers.
The firm sought assistance from the city and barangays in clearing fallen trees and debris that continue to block power lines.
Water
In a separate meeting with the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and PrimeWater, Benitez reviewed efforts to normalize the city’s water distribution.
Of the 70,941 total consumers, about 68,995 households already have water, while 1,986 remain without supply.
PrimeWater reported that out of 59 deep wells, 46 are operational, while 13 remain offline due to lack of power.
Eighteen are running on generator sets, 28 are connected to Negros Power, and 12 are awaiting reconnection.
“These deep wells are ready to operate — they just need electricity. We are making sure all available resources are mobilized so that every household in Bacolod can have access to clean and sufficient water,” Benitez assured.
To complement the restoration efforts, Benitez announced the deployment of 2,700 workers for a 10-day cleanup and declogging operation starting November 21.
The operation will cover major canals, drainage systems and waterways in coordination with the city government.
The lawmaker also commended the technical teams and field personnel from Negros Power, Baciwa and PrimeWater for their continuous work amid challenging conditions.
“We are all working together to bring Bacolod back on its feet as quickly as possible. Our people deserve immediate relief and the full restoration of essential services,” he said./CJ, WDJ