In the wake of heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon (Habagat), the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is operating on a 24/7 basis to restore electricity in flood-affected areas across its franchise.
As of 7:00 AM, approximately 167,000 customers remain without power, primarily in Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Cavite, with additional outages reported in Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon. Of these, over 163,000 customers—or nearly 98 percent—are located in areas severely inundated by floodwaters, hampering restoration efforts.
“Meralco crews are working round-the-clock under challenging conditions. We ask for the public’s patience and understanding, as our teams can only safely restore power once floodwaters recede,” said Joe R. Zaldarriaga, Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications. “The safety of our customers and our line personnel remains our highest priority.”
Zaldarriaga emphasized the need for continued vigilance and electrical safety, urging customers in flooded areas to:
- Switch off the main circuit breaker;
- Stay dry when handling electrical equipment;
- Unplug all appliances and disconnect permanently wired devices;
- Wait for professional inspection before using any flood-exposed appliances.
In anticipation of possible extended outages, Meralco also advised residents to keep communication devices fully charged and ready. The utility is actively monitoring weather developments and deploying crews where safe and accessible.
Customers can report outages or seek assistance through Meralco’s social media pages (Facebook: @meralco, Twitter: @meralco), via SMS (0920-9716211, 0917-5516211), or by calling the Meralco Hotline at 16211.
