Philippine Energy Secretary Vows to Restore Power in Typhoon-Hit Region by Christmas Eve

Nov. 18, 2013
Philippine Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla pledged Monday to restore power in all typhoon-battered regions by Dec. 24.

More than a week after one of the most powerful typhoons ever, hit the Philippines, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla pledged to restore power in all typhoon-battered regions by Dec. 24. He told a news conference in Palo, in hard-hit Leyte province, he was ready to resign if he failed to meet the Christmas Eve deadline.

According to CBS News, the Philippine Energy Secretary acknowledged that the task, which would involve erecting about 160 giant power transmission towers and thousands of electric posts toppled by Typhoon Haiyan, was an impossible mission.

The storm, one of the strongest ever, laid waste to large sections of Leyte and Samar islands, and left more than 5,000 people dead or missing. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, there are 3,976 confirmed deaths, 1,598 still missing, and 18,175 injured as a result of the disaster. Meanwhile, aid workers, heavy equipment and lifesaving supplies flowed into regions devastated by Typhoon Haiyan on Monday, as the global relief effort moved into high gear...(CBSNews.com)

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