Manila: The Department of Energy (DOE) has mandated the immediate prioritization of power restoration and maintenance in vital areas, such as hospitals and evacuation centers, as Tropical Depression Dante exacerbates the heavy rains brought on by the southwest monsoon, known locally as the 'habagat'.
According to Philippines News Agency, during a meeting of the inter-agency Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) on Tuesday afternoon, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin instructed the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to ensure a steady power supply, particularly to four hospitals identified as vulnerable to severe flooding. These hospitals are San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital in Malabon, Tondo Medical Center in Manila, Valenzuela Medical Center, and Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina.
The DOE's Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB) has been directed to collaborate with Meralco to perform site inspections of these high-risk hospitals and offer technical assistance to bolster their electrical resiliency against flooding. Meralco is also tasked with ensuring the Roman Tantiongco Memorial Elementary School in Sitio Wawa, Barangay San Juan in Morong, Rizal, currently functioning as an evacuation center, receives the necessary power supply and a generator set.
To secure an adequate fuel supply in Metro Manila, the DOE has enlisted the Toll Regulatory Board to facilitate unobstructed access along tollways for delivering essential supplies from storage facilities in Subic, Zambales, and Bataan. The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is also actively monitoring and validating power conditions in areas impacted by the adverse weather.
The DOE's press release further states that off-grid areas are being assessed and monitored, including smaller communities that might have restricted access to emergency services. Additionally, the National Power Corporation's (Napocor) dam operations unit has been urged to provide evidence of its adherence to existing dam spilling protocols, ensuring safety thresholds are maintained, supported by visual documentation.
