BACOLOD CITY – In the wake of the severe damage inflicted by Typhoon Tino, Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is spearheading a coordinated drive to urgently restore essential electricity and water services for the city's residents.
Urgent Push for Power Restoration
On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Representative Benitez convened a critical meeting with top officials from the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC). The meeting, attended by NEPC president and CEO Roel Castro and vice president Maricel Pe, focused on the ongoing power interruptions plaguing numerous areas.
Benitez strongly urged NEPC to fast-track the restoration of electricity, highlighting the plight of many residents suffering from prolonged brownouts. In response, the power company committed to restoring the full power supply by Sunday.
"We need to work together so that areas with heavy obstructions can be prioritized for immediate power restoration," Benitez stated, emphasizing that electricity is vital not just for homes but also for critical utilities like water systems.
NEPC officials detailed that their restoration strategy involves working from the main power source down to distribution posts. However, they face significant hurdles, with 73 areas affected by vegetation obstructions and 12 areas with other physical barriers impeding repair crews. The company has requested assistance from the city and local barangays to clear fallen trees and debris blocking power lines.
Addressing the Critical Water Supply
In a separate meeting held the same day with the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation, Benitez tackled the parallel challenge of restoring the city's water supply.
PrimeWater provided a detailed status report: out of 70,941 total consumers, 68,995 households now have water. This leaves 1,986 households still without a water supply.
The operation of deepwells is central to the issue. Of the 59 deepwells, 46 are currently operational. However, 13 are non-functional due to a lack of electricity. The breakdown shows that 18 deepwells are running on generator sets, 28 are connected to NEPC, 12 have no power source at all, and one is dedicated to general water hauling.
Benitez revealed that Negros Power has pledged to prioritize reconnecting power to the 12 PrimeWater deepwells that remain offline. "We understand that these deepwells are ready to operate—they just need power. We are working to make sure all available resources are used so that every household in Bacolod will have access to clean and sufficient water," he added.
A City-Wide Cleanup Effort
Beyond utilities, Benitez announced a major cleanup initiative set to begin on November 21. A force of 2,700 workers will be deployed for 10 days to conduct declogging and cleanup operations in canals, drainage systems, and waterways across the city, a effort coordinated with the City Government of Bacolod.
The congressman also took a moment to acknowledge the relentless efforts of the technical teams and personnel from NEPC, Baciwa, and PrimeWater who are on the front lines of the restoration work.
"We are all working together—my office, the City Government, NEPC, Baciwa, PrimeWater, and our barangays—to bring Bacolod back on its feet as quickly as possible," Benitez affirmed. "Our people deserve immediate relief and the full restoration of essential services, especially power and water."
The high-level meetings were attended by key figures including Baciwa Chairman Sonya Verdeflor and her board members, John Canatoy of PrimeWater, and a contingent of Bacolod City Councilors.
