Meralco: More priority sites now have access to electricity

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest electricity distribution utility, has achieved its target of electrifying 536 priority sites as of June this year.

From only 492 priority sites energized in May, Meralco said in a statement that it was able to hit its target to power up 536 priority sites. Some 19,332 households are now enjoying the benefits of efficient and reliable electricity as of June, the company said.

Meralco has set aside a budget of more than P1 billion for its electrification program, with the bulk allocated for the southern part of its coverage area.

“Our commitment to provide electric service to our unserved and underserved customers through our Meralco Electrification Program projects is on track. We have also identified and are energizing the remaining households to fully energize our entire franchise area,” said Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco Spokesperson and Vice President for Corporate Communications.

Meralco set its target of electrifying 100 percent of its franchise area in 2020. However, the lockdown imposed in the country delayed several projects.  “The imposition of community quarantines was indeed a challenge but this did not stop us from ensuring our commitment to continuously provide adequate, stable and reliable power to all our customers, especially that electricity  plays a very crucial role amid the country’s ongoing vaccination program,” Zaldarriaga said.

Meralco’s electrification program is in compliance with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) call for distribution utilities (DU) and electric cooperatives (EC) to power up the entire Philippines.