LEGAZPI CITY -– Engr. Antonio Licup, Bicol area manager of the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), informed media that damage to towers and power lines caused by supertyphoon Reming last Nov. 30, 2007 has been placed at P1.8 billion.

        At the same time, he revealed that TransCo has already accomplished about 95 percent of the rehabilitation work. “Were expecting to finish the rehabilitation work not later than March 2008,” Licup said.

        Around 30 print and broadcast media practitioners from Albay and Sorsogon attended the luncheon meeting held last Jan. 8 at Jennifer Apartelle at Guevarra Subd., Legazpi City.

        Licup said the occasion was a belated Christmas party for the local media practitioners whom he thanked for their assistance in disseminating information on TransCo’s thrusts particularly in the anti-pilferage of cables and electric wires.

        Furthermore, Licup explained that the mandate of TransCo is to distribute electricity wholesale to the electric cooperatives which in turn retail electricity to the consumers.

        “We thank the media for supporting us when we launched the anti-pilferage program against those who steal not only power lines of TransCo and National Power Corporation (NPC) but also cables and wires of telephone companies like Bayantel and Digitel,” Licup said.

        The TransCo official also lauded the efforts of the media, the police and the military in apprehending power thieves which resulted in the recovery of 40 percent of the stolen copper wires.

        On the privatization of TransCo, Licup said that it might take place as early as August 2008 or as late as January 2009.