SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews / 14 December) – Incoming and outgoing flights on Thursday in this city and Siargao, a tourist destination, were canceled due to tropical depression “Urduja”, an official said.
Surigao del Norte provincial board member Marlon Coro said that Surigao-Cebu-Surigao, Manila-Siargao-Manila, and Cebu-Siargao-Cebu flights were canceled.
A passenger boat approaches the port of Surigao City on 28 October 2017. MindaNews file photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO
Vessels plying the Surigao-Southern Leyte and Surigao-Cebu routes also remained at port, city information officer Annette Villaces said.
Meanwhile, the power sector in Caraga Region braced for the 21st storm to hit the country this year.
“Power system operator and transmission service provider National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has implemented the necessary preparations and precautions to minimize the impact of Tropical Depression Urduja on transmission operations and facilities,” said Glory Rebleza, corporate communications officer of NGCP
She said preparations included ensuring the reliability of communications equipment, availability of hardware materials and supplies necessary for the repair of damages to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews in strategic areas, to facilitate immediate restoration work.
“NGCP’s Integrated Disaster Action Plan prescribes these and other procedures to ensure the readiness of all power transmission facilities expected to be affected by the passage of the weather disturbance,” she added.
Local power utilities in the provinces Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands were preparing too for the impact of “Urduja”.
“As expected we will prepare for any eventualities,” said Engr. Narcisco I. Caliao Jr., general manager of Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative.
Engr. Sergio Dagooc, general manager of Dinagat Island Electric Cooperative and Siargao Island Electric Cooperative, said they have prepared all necessary equipment.
Surigao del Norte area and parts of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte suffered days without power when tropical depression “Auring” made landfall in these provinces last January destroying several NGCP towers in Agusan del Norte.
In 2015, residents of Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte and parts of Surigao del Sur celebrated New Year without power when NGCP towers were toppled in Remedios T. Romualdez town in Agusan del Norte. (Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)
