Meralco Supports the Fight Against Covid-19
by Coni Tejada
With its 117-year history, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is not new to strange and difficult times. It has lived through the Second World War, several economic downturns, and numerous natural calamities, committed than ever to generating and distributing power to all consumers.
And this new crisis, as it helps the national government to contain the Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19), is nothing different.
Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Engr. Ronnie L. Aperocho assures Meralco customers that its services are full-on 24/7, without fail. "During these challenging times, Meralco remains always ready and will continue working with the energy sector to ensure that electric power remains uninterrupted. We are implementing our business continuity plan as well as measures to distribute power around the clock, especially to crucial installations such as hospitals.”
Select PNP checkpoints, such as the one in Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Pasig, were given access to power to enable personnel to work better even at night. Photo courtesy of Meralco.
Here are eight ways Meralco is assisting the government in its fight against Covid-19:
- 1. Lights will continue to burn bright even during these dark times. Meralco assures the public of close-to-zero scheduled power interruptions during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). It has deferred its scheduled maintenance activities and only critically-loaded areas approved by the Department of Energy will experience very brief interruptions.
- 2. Department of Health (DOH) facilities gets top priority. All government hospitals and DOH offices are exempted from power interruptions as it continues to do battle with Covid-19.
- 3. Public and private hospitals are prepped for continued operations. Armed with a list of all hospitals in their franchise area, Meralco’s Networks department has been inspecting hospital facilities and checking each transformer load to ensure its power supply reliability.
The Ninoy Aquino Stadium is being energized for use as a Covid-19 treatment center. Photo courtesy of Meralco.
- 4. Government hospitals are equipped to accept more patients. Meralco approached industry-leading air-conditioning solutions company, Concepcion Industries, to provide much needed cooling system for the tents set up by the National Kidney and Transplant Institute to accommodate an anticipated rise in Covid-19 patients. It also provided 16 floodlights for tents at the Lung Center of the Philippines.
- 5. Critical service installations continue in crucial areas. Meralco has continued installing vital transformers and other electrical equipment at the Cavite City Hall, Maynilad facilities in Cavite, and at the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The power firm also granted the service application of Urban Homes, which provides free lodging to health workers of St. Luke's Medical Center at the Bonifacio Global City. It likewise energized Quezon City’s Covid-19 regional evacuation center.
- 6. Power is available at select Philippine National Police checkpoints. Several checkpoints, particularly two in Pasig City, and two in Meycauayan, Bulacan have been provided with metered electric service. Stationed police officers can do their work more properly with available lights, working electric fans, and charged mobile phones, as they contain the public’s movement during the ECQ.
- 7. Electric Jeeps (eJeeps) transport healthcare personnel to the frontlines. Meralco subsidiary eSakay has lent a fleet of eJeeps to Pasig City to ferry its medical frontliners to and from Pasig City General Hospital (PCGH). The service is free of charge and was undertaken when public utility vehicles were ordered to stop service at the start of the ECQ. eSakay will also deploy eJeeps with the Department of Transportation to serve The Medical City, Robinson’s Galleria, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, St. Martin de Porres Charity Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, National Center for Mental Health, and VRP Medical Center. Operations will officially start on Monday, April 6.
- 8. Meralco assists in the conversion of major venues to Covid-19 treatment centers. The utility will boost the energy capability of the Philippine International Convention Center, the World Trade Center, Pasay City, and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium at the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila, which will be temporarily converted into Covid-19 treatment centers. This will be done by providing additional electrical systems to cope with the projected power demand when these venues start housing patients.
Meralco President and CEO Atty. Ray C. Espinosa expressed the company’s commitment to the public during these critical times. “Going beyond the power and light we deliver, this current crisis calls for us to be beacons of reliability and hope. We are keeping the lights on for our front liners and affected Filipinos, and we are one with the government in overcoming this crisis.”
For inquiries, contact your Meralco Corporate Partners or call 16210.
This article was originally posted on the Power Club website. Click here to visit the original page.