Manila, Oct. 31 -- The Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) has purchased brand new vehicles as part of efforts to further improve its services in the province.

Worth around PHP25 million, the new vehicles - which include three manlift trucks and 16 L300 vans - are intended to speed up mobile line patrol and power restoration efforts during times of disaster, according to INEC assistant general manager Cipriano Martinez III.

"This is just the first phase of improving our equipment and facilities," Martinez said in a media interview on Friday after a thanksgiving Mass and blessing of the newly acquired vehicles at the INEC main office in Barangay Suyo in this town.

"We need to upgrade our services to keep up with the fast growth rat...