Apatang, Leon Guerrero salute GPA crews as Sinlaku recovery enters new phase

Gov. David M. Apatang and Guam Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero paid tribute to dozens of Guam Power Authority linemen and support personnel who spent 45 days helping restore electricity across Saipan after the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Sinlaku, with Leon Guerrero revealing a heartbreaking phone conversation she had with Apatang while the storm was battering the CNMI.

Speaking during a thank-you dinner at the Garapan Roundhouse last June 7, Leon Guerrero recalled how she remained in close contact with Apatang as Sinlaku approached and later struck the islands. At the height of the storm, she called the CNMI governor to check on conditions.

“And when I called him at the heat of the typhoon, I said, ‘Governor, how are you?’ And he said, ‘Governor, my island is destroyed,’” Leon Guerrero said. “And that just really broke my heart.”

The Guam governor said the conversation immediately underscored the scale of the disaster facing the Commonwealth and reinforced the need for Guam to assist its northern neighbors. She said GPA general manager John M. Benavente wasted little time in preparing crews for deployment after ensuring Guam’s own electrical system was secure following Sinlaku’s impact there.

“When the typhoon ended and John and I were talking, John, it wasn't, ‘Can you go, John, with your team.’ It was, ‘When, when are we going to go?’” Leon Guerrero said.

Apatang thanked Leon Guerrero, Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, GPA personnel and Commonwealth Utilities Corp. workers for their partnership throughout the recovery effort.

“I just want to say thank you for everything that you guys have been doing for our people here in the island of Saipan especially,” Apatang said. “We really appreciate all your hard work.”

He added that the assistance embodied the spirit of “One Marianas,” with Guam responding quickly to help the CNMI recover from one of the strongest storms to strike the islands in recent years.

Benavente and CUC executive director Kevin O. Watson later highlighted the dedication of the utility crews and the close coordination between GPA and CUC that accelerated restoration efforts across Saipan.

Benavente noted that many GPA personnel deployed to Saipan were veterans of previous disaster recoveries, including super typhoons Soudelor and Yutu and Typhoon Mawar. He said the response also showcased a new generation of utility workers who gained valuable experience during recent storms.

“The one thing I noticed from all of this is the poles that were put up in Yutu too were still standing,” Benavente said. “So what I'm saying with the CNMI really is it's getting stronger after Yutu.”

He credited both experienced linemen and younger apprentices for helping restore power under difficult conditions and praised their commitment to communities on both Guam and Saipan.

“The passion, knowing that people don't have power, whether it's on the island of Guam or here,” Benavente said, describing the motivation behind the crews’ long days in the field.

Watson said he was impressed by the GPA workers’ work ethic and willingness to endure grueling schedules during the recovery effort.

“In the last 45 days, I've gotten to meet many of the line workers, both men and women,” Watson said. “I've been very impressed at their eagerness to work and how much they enjoy their job.”

He noted that many crews routinely worked 16-hour days and often continued into late evening hours to restore service to residents and businesses.

“I can't express my gratitude enough that GPA came here to help CUC,” Watson said. “And the way that all of you are working together is amazing.”

According to Benavente, the first contingent of approximately 55 GPA personnel will begin rotating back to Guam after completing a 45-day deployment. A second wave of workers is expected to arrive to continue restoration efforts, with roughly 40 additional personnel slated to support ongoing work over the next month.

Watson said GPA’s contribution was critical to speeding up restoration.

“Very, very crucial,” Watson said. “We couldn't have done it by ourselves in the short amount of time that it's been done.”

The dinner, hosted jointly by Apatang and Leon Guerrero, honored both GPA and CUC personnel as power restoration work continues across parts of Saipan still affected by Sinlaku’s destruction.