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The Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) reported that recent storms have caused ₱9.4 million in damage to power lines and infrastructure across Baguio City and Benguet. Earlier estimates placed the losses at around ₱6.8 million, but updated figures from the Philippine News Agency confirmed the higher toll. The destruction was driven by Tropical Storm Emong and days of southwest monsoon rains.
Despite severe weather disruptions, Beneco has restored electricity to the vast majority of its service areas, with power back in over 97% of households and barangays across the said areas.
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Costly toll
Recent weather disturbances have taken a toll on Benguet’s power infrastructure, with Tropical Cyclone Crising (Wipha) causing ₱1.77 million in damage. Meanwhile, the combined impact of Tropical Storm Emong (Co-May) and intensified southwest monsoon rains brought a heavier blow, resulting in ₱7.73 million in losses.
As of 3 p.m. on August 1, Beneco’s latest damage assessment listed 44 toppled electric poles amounting to ₱2.65 million, along with 12 transformers worth ₱1.39 million. The report also noted damage to 11 protective devices and fuses valued at ₱3,679.
At ₱4.5 million, Baguio City recorded the highest damage to power infrastructure, with losses including several primary poles, transformers, and protective equipment. In neighboring Benguet, the toll reached ₱2.3 million.
Beneco noted that the total damage may climb further, with several towns still finalizing and submitting their assessment reports.
Power outages were largely triggered by landslides and vegetation crashing into power lines, with toppled trees, bamboo, and electric poles disrupting supply. In many areas of Benguet and parts of Baguio, blocked roads slowed repairs, as linemen had to wait for clearing operations before restoring electricity.
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Power restoration
According to Laarni Ilagan, Beneco’s media officer-in-charge, the cooperative updates its damage and restoration data every three hours to track progress on the ground and ensure government agencies and consumers are informed of ongoing repair activities.
“Our personnel are continuing to do their work to bring to normal all electricity supplies,” she said.
Ilagan pointed to Baguio City to illustrate the importance of real-time monitoring. Power was fully restored by 10 a.m. on August 1, but an unexpected outage at noon briefly lowered restoration to 99.9%. By 3 p.m., response teams had addressed the issue and brought the city back to full power.
She also appealed for public patience, noting that delays in restoring electricity in some areas are unavoidable due to difficult conditions on the ground and the scale of damage crews are working to address.
Poor road visibility in several areas further slowed restoration efforts, making it difficult for crews to reach affected sites promptly.
However, Ilagan emphasized that Beneco remains on high alert, coordinating closely to keep restoration efforts running efficiently while prioritizing the safety of its field personnel.
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