BAGUIO CITY — As of noon on July 31, 2023, the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) has achieved remarkable progress in its power restoration efforts, successfully energizing all 129 barangays in Baguio City, which were severely impacted by the extensive damages caused by super typhoon Egay (International Name Doksuri).

However, individual concerns still persist in some areas, leading to a 95.11% restoration rate for total member-consumer-owner (MCO) accounts in the city.

As the recovery process continues, Baguio City emerges with the largest recorded cost of damages, amounting to P5,391,834.36 out of a total of P10,595,620.81.

Despite the progress in power restoration, BENECO authorities expect the damages’ cost to rise further as reports continue to pour in from Baguio City and Benguet.

In one notable incident of resilience and community spirit, a heartening display of unity occurred during a restoration activity at Eslao St. in Dontogan barangay, Baguio City.

Linemen, along with the support of the community members led by Dontogan Barangay kagawad Joel Codnita, successfully lifted a hefty Distribution Transformer, weighing an astounding 340 kilos and measuring 23KV/50KVA.

BENECO Crew Jedi leadman, Joel Pi-ay, commended the residents of Dontogan for voluntarily extending their help to the linemen, especially during the arduous task of lifting the heavy transformer.

Pi-ay explained that the area’s location, far from the main road and inaccessible by big trucks, posed a significant challenge to the restoration efforts.

However, the community’s determination and cooperative spirit prevailed, making the seemingly impossible task achievable.

BENECO representative Laarni S. Ilagan expressed heartfelt gratitude for the concern and support they received from the MCOs in Dontogan.

The heartwarming display of unity and volunteerism touched the entire crew, reinforcing their commitment to restoring power promptly and efficiently.

As the restoration activities continue in Baguio City and other affected areas, reports from the municipalities of Kibungan and Bakun in Benguet province are still pending.

BENECO authorities are closely monitoring the situation and working tirelessly to bring power back to every household.

Despite the challenges, BENECO remains dedicated to its mission, driven by the shared spirit of resilience and cooperation exhibited by the communities it serves.

Through this united effort, Baguio City and Benguet Province are on the path to overcoming the aftermath of the devastating power outage, one neighborhood at a time.