CUC sends line crew to Guam

The CNMI sent off yesterday to Guam 12 members of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. power line crew—most of them storm response veterans—to assist the Guam Power Authority’s restoration of the power distribution after Typhoon Mawar’s devastation in Guam.

Speaking at a news briefing at the CUC conference room last Friday afternoon, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said the CUC team is ready to go down and help the CNMI’s brothers and sisters in Guam.

Palacios said the CUC crew will be bringing with them some CNMI flags that they will fly, similar to when Guam flew their flags when they assisted the Commonwealth during recovery efforts after typhoons.

“We want you to be proud of who you are, who you are representing. And we’re very proud of you. We are very confident in your ability to go down and help our brothers and sisters in Guam,” the governor told the 12-man CUC crew.

Mawar’s powerful winds and strong rains last May 24 severely damaged Guam’s power system, affecting the power supply to over 52,000 customers.

Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang also attended the press briefing last Friday, while Fr. Rey Rosal led a prayer to bless the members of the crew.

CUC board chair Janice A. Tenorio announced that GPA will be taking care of the CUC team and will be putting them at the Hyatt Guam.

Acting CUC executive director Betty G. Terlaje said the CUC crew will be in Guam for about 30 days. Should an extension be needed, then they will extend it again for another 30 days.

“We have backup for the next batch,” Terlaje said.

She said this collaborative effort is the result of a mutual agreement between CUC and GPA for emergency assistance after a major disaster.

Terlaje said CUC first focused its efforts on Rota for eight to nine days to restore power and water services to its customers after Mawar’s destruction.

With Rota’s utilities now fully restored and operations back to normal, Terlaje said it is time to lend a helping hand to “our brothers and sisters on Guam,” just as GPA extended their assistance to CUC after Typhoon Soudelor in 2015 and Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018 destroyed the power distribution system on Saipan and Tinian.

“We recognize the importance of standing together with our sister utility companies in the Marianas and Pacific region during times of adversity,” Terlaje said.

She thanked GPA general manager John Benavente and the rest of the GPA family for their collaboration, hospitality, and for welcoming CUC’s line crew during this effort.

“Their support enables us to reciprocate the assistance we have received in the past, strengthening the bond between our utilities and reinforcing the spirit of unity in the face of natural disasters,” she said.

Michael Itibus Kukkun, a foreman and leader of the 12-man CUC crew, said in an interview that 10 of them are from Saipan and two are from Rota.

Kukkun said it will be his second time as a member of the CUC crew to assist Guam as he was also with the CUC team that was sent to Guam after Typhoon Pongsona’s destruction in 2002.

Kukkun said many of this current CUC team members will have this trip as their first time to help Guam, but most of them are veterans to storm response.

“When it was [Typhoons] Soudelor and Yutu, they (GPA) came up and helped us. So we have to help our sister island in return,” he said.

Tenorio said in a later interview that the 12-man CUC crew is the first group going to Guam, and that they may send another group later.

“So it’s like a rotation. A lot of them are veterans, highly qualified, and certified,” the chair said.

Terlaje said nine are certified power linemen and three are going to be certified.

Terlaje said GPA needs power linemen and groundmen.

“We gave them the best groundmen that can also do linemen work,” she said. “Anywhere you put them, they are capable.”

Terlaje said they are committed to assist GPA for 60 days, but they are processing on a 30-day basis.

Terlaje noted that when GPA was here to assist during Yutu, they were here for almost three months.

She said their agreement in place with GPA allows them to provide each other support in time of need during disasters.

“We are there for them, they are here for us. We are going to help them with what they need,” Terlaje said.