MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has successfully restored power transmission services in the Surigao provinces after the infrastructure was hit by the effects of Tropical Depression Basyang (international name: Penha).
According to an advisory released on Saturday morning, February 7, 2026, the Placid-Madrid 69-kilovolt (kV) line was brought back online at 1:44 p.m. Friday, roughly 15 hours after service was lost.
Impact on Local Cooperatives The restoration of the 69-kV line is critical for the region’s energy supply, as it provides the primary transmission connection for:
- Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO)
- Surigao del Sur II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SURSECO II)
Current Weather Status The storm continues to lose strength as it moves through the Visayas.
- Location: As of the latest update, Basyang was estimated to be in the vicinity of Dauis, Bohol.
- Strength: The storm has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 75 kph.
- Signals: Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains in effect for several areas across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Projected Path Weather bureau PAGASA expects Basyang to make another landfall in portions of Cebu and Negros Oriental between Friday night and early Saturday morning. It is then projected to head toward the southern portion of Panay Island or over the Panay Gulf.
Despite the storm’s weakening, authorities warned that heavy rainfall and severe winds are still likely in areas outside the direct landfall point. In Negros, over 1,000 residents have already been evacuated due to the threat of lahar flows from Mt. Kanlaon triggered by the storm’s rains.
The NGCP remains on alert to monitor other transmission lines as the storm progresses westward.