STRENGTHENING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. Seen in photo are (L-R) Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Office (Pasig DRRMO) Chief Bryant Meryll Ruiz Q. Wong, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) Executive Director Veronica T. Gabaldon, Bureau of Fire Protection- Pasig City Fire Marshal Leo A. Andiso, Meralco First Vice President and Head of Facilities, Safety, and Security Management Jerry B. Lao, Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga, Office of Civil Defense-NCR Regional Director George F. Keyser, Meralco Business Continuity Management Head Rafael C. Enriquez, Department of Science and Technology- NCR Regional Director Engr. Romelen T. Tresvalles, and Department of Interior and Local Government – NCR Assistant Regional Director Atty. Ana Lyn R. Baltazar-Cortez during the opening ceremony held at Meralco Operating Center in Pasig City.
When a major earthquake strikes, electricity becomes a lifeline for rescue teams, hospitals, communications networks and evacuation centers. Keeping those services running was at the heart of Meralco’s latest disaster preparedness exercise, which mobilized more than 6,000 employees and partners.
The Manuel V. Pangilinan-led power distributor joined the Office of Civil Defense–National Capital Region (OCD-NCR) and the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) in leading the third-quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on September 30, 2026.
Conducted across Meralco’s headquarters in Pasig City, sector offices and business centers, the full-scale exercise simulated a magnitude 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault, with an Intensity VIII scenario testing the company’s ability to protect personnel, respond to emergencies and sustain essential electricity services.
Beyond evacuation procedures, the drill put Meralco’s emergency response and business continuity plans through a series of demanding situations. Teams responded to a chemical spill, blackout, fire and mass-casualty incident, while conducting high-angle and collapsed-structure rescues.
The exercise also included a simulated press conference and the deployment of a generator set and floodlight to an evacuation center, underscoring the role of electricity in supporting relief operations.
To test communications during a disruption, Meralco used satellite phones and satellite-based broadband to connect its sector offices and external partners. Temporary offices and other essential facilities were set up to support continued operations.
Facilitated by Meralco’s Business Continuity Management Office in close coordination with OCD-NCR, the exercise sought to identify strengths, operational gaps and areas for improvement in emergency response, recovery and coordination with government agencies.
OCD-NCR Regional Director George F. Keyser emphasized that power continuity and timely restoration are essential to emergency response, healthcare, water systems, communications and business operations.
“This is why partnerships between the government and the private sector are vital in building a more resilient community,” Keyser said.
Evaluators from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Health–Metro Manila Center for Health Development, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and the NCR offices of DSWD, DILG, DOST, BFP and PNP assessed the exercise. The Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office also observed the activities.
Meralco regularly participates in the quarterly national earthquake drills and works with civil defense and local disaster management offices to strengthen emergency protocols across its franchise area.
For Meralco First Vice President and Head of Facilities, Safety, and Security Management Jerry B. Lao, the exercise provided an opportunity to validate the readiness of an organization delivering a critical public service.
“This also gives us the opportunity to move beyond what is created in our plans and put those plans into action,” Lao said.
