‘Power restored in 99 percent of Meralco areas’

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said yesterday it has restored power to 99 percent of its distribution circuits after typhoon "Milenyo" wrought havoc on over 3,500 Meralco facilities, poles and lines included, throughout its franchise area last week.

As this developed, the government said it is still assessing the economic fallout from Milenyo nearly a week after the storm cut a swath of destruction across the country, officials and analysts said.

A Meralco report said all distribution circuits have been energized in the northern parts of its franchise area, while the figure stands at 99.7 percent for the central area. Restoration work is likewise going on at a steady pace in the hardest hit south after it was cleared of obstructive debris.

Almost 96 percent of distribution circuits in the area were restored by Meralco personnel and linemen.

As much as 99.8 percent of the circuits in Metro Manila have also been energized. Among the areas that remain without power are Alabang Hills, Hillsborough Village and Pacific Malayan Village in Muntinlupa City.

Severe damage and numerous downed poles delay restoration in these areas, but Meralco said its personnel continue to work overtime to restore power to these areas.

Meralco vice president for corporate communications Elpi Cuna Jr. also warned people against pilfering fallen electric wires.

"We have been receiving reports that some unscrupulous residents and syndicates are taking advantage of the situation and are stealing our electric lines," Cuna said. "We are warning these people that we have already coordinated with local law enforcers to help us monitor and apprehend those involved in such illegal activity."

"We are also warning junk shop operators to refrain from buying these stolen electric lines because we intend to take appropriate legal actions against them, too," Cuna said, noting that such irresponsible acts hamper and severely delay the restoration work in many areas.

Cuna said, "the typhoon that hit us was a real unfortunate event that we just had to face head on. Our restoration efforts would not have been possible without the customers’ understanding, the immense assistance and help of local government units and other government agencies especially the MMDA, and the lending of field personnel and equipment by our business counterparts in the provinces, which include Angeles Electric, Clark Electric, Tarlac Enterprises Inc., Cabanatuan Electric, Dagupan Electric, Visayan Electric of Cebu and Davao Light. We also would like to acknowledge the invaluable support of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo."

He also added that Meralco "would like to laud the hard work of our linemen who have given a great deal of their time and energy to hasten our operations. For those who still remain without power, please be assured that we will continue with our efforts until the last home has its light back."

Meanwhile, the National Transmission Corp. (Transco) reported that, as of 3 p.m. last Tuesday the power restoration of the Luzon grid was placed at 90 percent — equivalent to a load of 5,054 megawatts (MW).

The state utility firm said it energized the Dasmariñas-Ternate line at 10:54 yesterday morning, delivering additional power to Meralco’s Cavite franchise area, particularly in Ternate and adjacent towns. — With reports from Paolo Romero, Rhodina Villanueva