BILECO officially ends “Task Force Seniang” operations in Biliran

By FLOR JACKSON (PIA Biliran)
January 12, 2007

NAVAL, Biliran  –  Biliran Electric Cooperative (Bileco) officially ended its rehabilitation and restoration activities dubbed “Task Force Seniang” last January 2, 2007 after the province of Biliran was hit by Typhoon Seniang in December 9 last year.

This was bared by Mr. Marlon Roa, Manager of Bileco who said that the operation which was given a timetable of one month since it started in December 11, 2006 was completed earlier by ten days than its original schedule of completion which was January 11, 2007.

He added that the early completion of the restoration work was made possible through the bayanihan efforts of  other electric cooperatives that came over to Biliran province like the Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO), Leyeco IV in Hilongos, Leyte, Leyeco V in Ormoc City and the Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative (DORELCO) in Tolosa, Leyte who immediately responded to Bileco’s call for assistance saying that the extent of the damage to the electrical posts and power lines in the province of Biliran cannot be done the soonest if Bileco had to rely on their own technical experts and linemen.

Furthermore, he said that he had so much to thank to the four electric cooperatives who assisted Bileco in the restoration work conducted provincewide because aside from the manpower, these cooperatives likewise offered their major equipment to include the two boom trucks to hasten the completion of the repair and restoration jobs.

He informed PIA that with the assistance extended by the four cooperatives, Bileco spent an amount only for the fuel of the service equipment that were brought in by the neighboring electric cooperatives that assisted them.

Manager Roa cited the advantage of electric companies being organizesd into cooperatives saying that in disasters like the devastating typhoon Seniang, restoration activities are made lighter, easier and faster because the electric cooperatives are always ready to extend a helping hand, full support and assistance to any of their sister cooperatives so as not to deprive the member-consumers of the efficient service of the electric coops.