ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative Inc. (Zamcelco) deployed a 12-person team to General Santos City on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, to assist in restoring electricity services following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the region on June 8.
Task Force Kapatid Deployment
Lawyer Rommel Agan, Zamcelco’s chief management officer, confirmed that the contingent is part of the Task Force Kapatid program. The team consists of engineers and linemen who brought essential equipment to support restoration efforts.
“The Task Force Kapatid Contingent is bringing not only skilled personnel but also vital equipment, including a boom truck and other utility vehicles and tools, to support the power restoration efforts,” Agan stated.
Convoy and Collaboration
The Zamcelco contingent, led by Engineer Billy Acain, departed Zamboanga City on Tuesday afternoon. Agan noted that they will be joined by a team from the Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative (Zaneco) and will travel in convoy to General Santos City. Together with personnel from South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco 2), they will work to restore power services in the affected area.
Experience in Disaster Response
Acain shared that this is his second time leading an emergency response team for Zamcelco. His first deployment was in December 2021, when the cooperative assisted Surigao del Sur II Electric Cooperative in restoring power disrupted by Typhoon Odette.
Safety Commitment
Agan and Engineer Floyd Bautista, Zamcelco’s general manager, advised the contingent members to prioritize safety at all times. “Through the deployment of the contingent, Zamcelco reaffirms its commitment to the spirit of bayanihan among electric cooperatives and stands in solidarity with the affected communities as they recover from the disaster,” Agan said.
No Impact on Local Operations
Agan assured that the deployment would not affect Zamcelco’s field operations in Zamboanga City. The cooperative remains fully operational while supporting the recovery efforts in General Santos City.
