Meralco upgrades facilities despite money problems

Despite its gargantuan problem, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said it is continuing the upgrading and improvement of its facilities.

The company said these moves form part of its continuing system-wide electric service improvement program. This year, the power distribution utility has allotted about P6 billion for capital expenditures.

"Our commitment to provide the highest level of service to all our customers is a continuing effort. Despite present constraints, our objective to further develop and improve our electric system will continue. This is our commitment to the public we have vowed to serve," Meralco vice president for corporate communications Elpi Cuna Jr. said.

Included in the upgrading and improvement scheme, the company said, are the Grace Park indoor substation in Caloocan City, Hillcrest substation in Pasig City and Legaspi substation in Makati City.

Part of the program is the expansion of its Sta. Maria substation in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, uprating of its Ternate substation in the province of Cavite and the installation of an additional power transformer in its Los Baños substation in Laguna province.

Meralco said the development of the Grace Park substation is expected to reduce the frequency and duration of power interruptions in the areas of Caloocan City, Malabon, Navotas, portions and Quezon City and portions of Manila, while the development of the Legaspi substation, which is expected to be commissioned next year, would improve electric service in the Makati business district.

The Hillcrest substation, which was energized last Oct. 18, is now serving customers of Pasig, Mandaluyong and Taguig and is poised to meet the increasing electricity demand in the Ortigas Center.

The expansion of the Sta. Maria substation is expected to improve electric service in the towns of Sta. Maria, Bocaue, Guiguinto, Pandi, Angat, Norzagaray, Balagtas and San Jose del Monte. The uprating of its power transformer in Ternate, Cavite, on the other hand, is expected to improve electric service in the various towns of Cavite particularly Ternate, Maragondon, Naic, Magallanes and Gen. Aguinaldo.

The installation of a 333MVA, additional power transformer at Los Baños substation, which was completed on Dec. 5 this year, is now providing benefits to customers in Los Baños, Bay and Calauan towns in Laguna province. –Donnabelle Gatdula