As severe Tropical Storm Kristine pummeled almost the entire country, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) line crews prepared themselves, responding swiftly and braving strong winds and floodwater to repair damage, restore power and prevent outages.
While Kristine unleashed her intensity, Meralco has placed its resources and adjusted its plans to ensure a safe and effective response. Indeed, Meralco is already preparing for tropical depression Leon (international name Kong-rey), which has intensified into a tropical storm.
“We have protocols in place to respond to emergency situations,” Meralco vice president and head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said at a news briefing. “We have pre-positioned our response teams and equipment so we can swiftly respond to restore power. Despite the strong winds and strength of (Tropical Storm) Kristine, the damage to Meralco infrastructure was minimal and our line crews rushed to restore power to affected customers.”
As of 12:00 noon on Friday, the number of Meralco customers affected by service interruptions is down to around 360,000, down from the peak number of around 566,000 last night. The majority of affected areas are in parts of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas, while the rest are in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, and Quezon.
“Following last night’s strong winds and torrential rains, we ask for our customers’ patience and understanding as we have to follow protocols and prioritize their safety, especially in flooded areas. Our crews are tirelessly working to restore services to most affected customers by the end of the day,” Zaldarriaga added.
When asked if Meralco can restore power over the weekend, Zaldarriaga expressed confidence as the weather improved early afternoon Friday and hopefully the weekend.
“We have to give credit to our line crews. They braved the strong winds at the height of the typhoon, so our customers will have their powers restored and minimize power interruptions because of the storm,” Zaldarriaga added.
Meanwhile, One Meralco Foundation, the social development arm of the distribution utility, has prepared relief packs and solar lamps for distribution to families severely affected by the storm.
According to Meralco, the number of relief packs, solar lamps, and volunteers is expected to increase in the coming days as some Meralco employees are also victims of typhoons.
“We expect to distribute more relief assistance to victims of Kristine, but the typhoon also impacts some of our employees,” a Meralco employee who asked not to be named said.
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 and 8631-1111.