With the kind of devastation that the province of Albay experienced during the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Rolly,” expect Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to provide much-needed assistance in power restoration efforts, something it has done countless of times in the past.
Together with its social development arm One Meralco Foundation (OMF), Meralco deployed a 206-man strong contingent composed mostly of engineers, linemen and support personnel and headed off to the province.
The group arrived in Albay early this morning in order to help expedite the restoration of electricity service in areas severely battered by the super typhoon.
The team with all their equipment will help the Albay Power and Energy Corp. (APEC) in the ongoing massive power restoration efforts in the province of Albay. They will be assigned to District 1 to reinforce local teams and those from PRRD Task Force Kapatid.
Around 65 from the Meralco group will help the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in its restoration efforts in Bicol.
The power restoration activities in Bicol are being held simultaneously in Albay, Catanduanes, and some parts of Camarines Sur.
The utility firm is also closely coordinating with the Department of Energy (DOE), National Electrification Administration (NEA), Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (Philreca), and the electric cooperatives in Bicol on how the utility firm can provide help.
Meralco’s presence will surely bolster the initial 11 electric cooperatives from the Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region 8 (FRECOR 8) who were there since Wednesday for the same purpose. The FRECOR 8 team was deployed to Districts 1 and 3 of Albay for the massive line and road-clearing operation, and initial correction and repairs of damaged electricity facilities.
FRECOR 8 remains hopeful that other power restoration teams will be deployed to help restore electricity in the entire province.