Meralco monitors critical areas

MANILA, Philippines – The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said it has created a task force that will oversee the monitoring of critical polling precincts during the May elections.

Meralco president Jose de Jesus told reporters over the weekend that they were coordinating with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to

determine which areas are in need of close monitoring.

Meralco gave assurance of an uninterrupted electric service for its franchise area before, during and after the May 2010 elections.

“We would like to inform the public that the maintenance and checking of our facilities to ensure that these are in top condition is currently of utmost priority and we will definitely be ready for the coming elections,” Meralco vice president and sub-transmission services head Rustico de Borja said.

De Borja said it is Meralco’s primary duty to maintain and preserve the integrity of the country’s first automated polls by ensuring that critical and significant polling centers within its franchise areas will have uninterrupted power supply.

“Meralco employees, especially line crews, will be on general alert and on-hand to provide round-the-clock power monitoring and assistance,” he said.

“For several months now, our sectors have conducted thorough calibration and maintenance checks of different Meralco facilities, including distribution transformers, power lines, meters and other line equipment in our distribution system,” he said.

De Borja also said Meralco is currently setting up various committees within its ranks to handle and strategize contingencies in emergency situations during the critical election period.

He said Meralco is coordinating with the Comelec and the Department of Education in getting a complete list of polling centers and election hot spots so that these areas are given priority.

De Borja said Meralco is also currently monitoring the National Printing Office’s power supply to ensure that the printing of official ballots is uninterrupted.

Meralco urged poll watchers to call its call center hotline number 16211 for questions or clarifications.

Meanwhile, Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago urged telecommunication service providers to quickly upgrade the connectivity of Abra, Benguet, Samar, Leyte, Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi to enable the seamless electronic transmission of the results of the May 10 elections. The areas have a combined three million voters but have poor connectivity. - With Delon Porcalla