Manila: Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has instructed officials of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to exercise increased vigilance over the next 48 hours due to the heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, locally known as "habagat."
According to Philippines News Agency, Garin visited the Meralco command center in Ortigas on Monday, where she acknowledged the power distributor's efforts to manage the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Crising, internationally known as Wipha. Garin emphasized the importance of remaining proactive and attentive as the adverse weather conditions persist.
During a meeting attended by Meralco officials from the greater Manila area via Zoom, it was reported that approximately 11,242 Meralco customers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces have been affected by the storm. Cavite recorded the highest number of affected customers, with 5,466 reported cases.
With a new low-pressure area being tracked by meteorologists, Garin highlighted the work of the inter-agency task force on energy resiliency, which is focused on mitigating the impact of weather disturbances on power supply. She also encouraged consumers to report any power-related issues to their distribution utilities for prompt resolution.
Garin noted that while emergency personnel are actively working to restore power, safety concerns related to flooding and ongoing rains may delay immediate restoration efforts.
In a related development, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced in a press release that power and fuel supply and distribution have largely returned to normal following the disruption caused by Crising. Exceptions include some areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), where power remains intermittent.
Reports from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) indicate that three electric cooperatives in CAR-Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BENECO), Mountain Province Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MOPRECO), and Abra Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ABRECO)-are under close monitoring. Restoration efforts have seen power restored in 37 out of 51 affected municipalities, reconnecting 5,487 customer connections, which account for 72.55 percent of affected areas.
The DOE further stated that all power generation plants, both on-grid and off-grid, are currently operating normally. Notably, the Balatubat Diesel Power Plant in Camiguin Island, Calayan, Cagayan, has been fully restored, and all National Power Corporation (NPC) Mindanao generation plants continue to function without interruption.
