Negros Power Proves Strong Performance After Typhoon Tino
When Typhoon Tino struck Negros with violent winds reaching two hundred twenty kilometers per hour under Signal No. 4, it felt like a painful reminder. Trees that survived Typhoon Odette finally fell. Substations went offline. Power lines collapsed. It was the kind of destruction many of us hoped we would never see again, yet it was right in front of us.
But this time, something else was different. Something important. Something many of us did not expect.
As communities slowly came back to life and lights returned to homes and small businesses, I found myself pondering one big question. What if CENECO were still our power distributor today?
A Look Back at Odette and the Long Wait for Power
Anyone who lived through Typhoon Odette remembers how tough that time was. CENECO’s posts from that period show how long it took to restore power. Even with help from augmentation teams, MORE Power, and Task Force Kapatid, full restoration took over a month. For many, the wait felt endless.
Families endured dark nights. Businesses lost income every day the power was out. It was a heavy blow that added to the storm’s emotional toll.
Typhoon Tino caused similar destruction, but the response was different this time.
A Faster and Stronger Restoration Under Negros Power
Under Negros Power, nearly ninety-five percent of consumers regained electricity in just two weeks. Thousands of households got power back within the first week. A timeline like this would have been nearly unthinkable based on our past experiences.
And no, this was not luck or coincidence. It was the outcome of preparation, investment, teamwork, and skill coming together when people needed it most.
Negros Power could move quickly because of several key factors:
A strategic restoration plan
The plan was in place before Typhoon Tino made landfall. Instead of waiting for damage, they were already preparing for the response.
Augmentation teams on standby
Sister companies from Iloilo and Bohol, and a private utility from Cagayan, arrived quickly. These teams worked with speed and precision.
Pre-positioned equipment and supplies
Many communities had rarely experienced this before. Materials were already on hand, which helped avoid delays.
Strong collaboration
Local government units, volunteers, and partner utilities worked together to clear roads and remove debris. This allowed line workers to access affected areas immediately.
This is what a modern utility looks like. This is the level of service consumers in Central Negros were promised and are finally witnessing.
Privatization Debated Before but Justified Now
For years, the decision to privatize the Central Negros distribution utility sparked intense discussions. Some supported it while others feared the change. Now people are seeing the difference for themselves. The improved response during Typhoon Tino is not because the storm was mild. It is because the service was skilled and professional.
This is what the region has long deserved.
And This Is Only Year One
We are just in the first year of Negros Power’s five-year rehabilitation plan. If this is the level of performance we see now, imagine what year five will look like.
- A stronger and more resilient power grid
- Modern facilities equipped for extreme weather
- Systems built to withstand typhoons even stronger than Tino
- Power restoration has been reduced from weeks to just days
All of that is within reach, not as a dream, but as an everyday reality.
Negros Power already showed what is possible in Iloilo. Now they are proving it again in Negros. For the first time in a long while, consumers are experiencing what real power service should be.
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