MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Following the round-the-clock work of its crews and personnel, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has restored electricity service to nearly all customers that were affected by power interruptions due to intensified southwest monsoon rains triggered by Super Typhoon Nando (international name: Ragasa).
“We are now conducting mopping up operations and our crews will not stop until we restore service to the affected customers,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said.
As of 7:00 a.m. today, Meralco is working to restore power to the last 1,700 affected customers, who are mostly in parts of Bulacan, Metro Manila, Batangas, and Cavite.
Meralco also continues to be on heightened alert for the possible impact of Tropical Storm Opong and southwest monsoon rains.
The power distributor has put in place necessary measures to mitigate the possible impact of the weather disturbance. Part of these are reminders to billboard owners and operators to temporarily roll their billboards up to prevent these structures from being toppled by possible strong winds.
“We continue to closely monitor weather developments to ensure the readiness of our crews and facilities. We also remind everyone to observe electrical safety especially those in flood-prone areas,” Zaldarriaga said.
Among the electrical safety practices that the public should observe include:
- Ensuring that the main electrical power switch or circuit breaker is off and avoiding contact with electrical appliances or electrical outlets when hands are wet
- Unplugging appliances from wall sockets. Turn off permanently connected equipment and unscrew all light bulbs if possible
- Cleaning mud and debris from electrical equipment using rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes
- Ensuring all electrical wires, outlets, and devices are completely dry before using
- Having a licensed electrician inspect appliances and wiring systems before turning them back on and refraining from using flood-damaged electrical equipment
To report power outages and other concerns, customers may reach Meralco through its official social media pages on Facebook (www.facebook.com/meralco) and Twitter (@meralco). They may also text their concerns to 0920- 9716211 and 0917-5516211 or contact the Meralco Hotline at 16211.#
