After Typhoon Haiyan: Solar lamps to bring light to communities in Visayas

It could take six months to restore damaged electricity network. Manila: Volunteers at a livelihood skills development agency are rushing the assembly of solar-powered lamps that will provide lighting to communities in the dark in the Visayas as a result of Typhoon Haiyan’s onslaught.

“These lights can help bring a sense of normalcy to families, who lost every material possession, and some, even their loved ones,” Secretary Joel Villanueva, director general of the government Technical Skills and Development Agency (TESTA), said.

Eastern and Western Visayas, particularly the islands of Leyte, Samar and portions of Negros and Capiz had been without power since November 8 when one of the most powerful tyhoons in the country, Haiyan struck. Along with destroying houses and taking the lives of some 5,211 people. The severe weather disturbance left tens of thousands of households in the dark and without electricity. The Department of Energy said it could take several more weeks or even up to six months to fully restore the damaged electricity distribution network to its normalcy.