The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) assured customers that its crews continue to work round-the-clock to safely restore power service in areas affected by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong).
As of 10:00 a.m. today, the number of affected customers has significantly dropped to 197,000 from more than 400,000 reported at midnight. Around 10,000 customers remain without power in areas still experiencing flooding. The majority of the remaining outages are concentrated in Cavite, Bulacan, Quezon, and Metro Manila, with additional affected customers in Rizal, Laguna, and Batangas.
“We continue to actively monitor the weather situation in light of persisting strong winds and rains brought about by the super typhoon. We ask our customers for patience and understanding as we have to prioritize safety during the conduct of power restoration activities,” said Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga.
Meralco also reminded the public to remain vigilant and observe electrical safety precautions, especially in flooded areas:
- Ensure that the main power switch or circuit breaker is turned off. Always make sure you are dry before touching any electrical facility.
- Unplug appliances and turn off permanently connected equipment. Remove light bulbs if possible.
- Clean mud and dirt from service equipment, main circuit breakers, or fuses using rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes.
- Make sure all electrical wires, connectors, and devices are completely dry.
- Once everything is dry, have a licensed electrician check the wiring system and all appliances before turning them on. Do not use flood-damaged electrical equipment.
Zaldarriaga also encouraged the public to keep communication lines open and ensure that mobile phones, laptops, radios, and other devices remain fully charged to receive updates. He urged everyone to verify information before sharing it.
“In these challenging times, responsible sharing matters. Spreading unverified information only adds to fear and confusion during these situations,” he said.
Customers may report power outages and other service concerns through Meralco’s official social media pages on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) @meralco, via text to 0920-9716211 or 0917-5516211, or by calling the Meralco Hotline at 16211.