Meralco to subsidize power costs in quarantine facilities

MANILA – The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) Friday said it will provide its full support to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) plans to convert three multi-purpose venues into health and medical facilities for the treatment and health monitoring of people infected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) virus.

In a statement, Meralco vowed to work “around the clock” to ensure the immediate development of an enhanced electrical system for DPWH’s identified temporary treatment centers.

These include the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City, and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium at the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila.

The distribution utility added it will install additional electrical facilities, augment the connection, and boost the energization of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium (NAS).

All three sites were also thoroughly checked, keeping in mind the surge in capacity of the medical facilities to be used caused by the increasing number of persons under investigation, persons under monitoring, and confirmed Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms.

Meralco will provide 24/7 monitoring to ensure continuous power while the sites are utilized as temporary health and medical facilities.

Meralco president and CEO Ray Espinosa expressed the distribution utility’s commitment as the company reinforces its service delivery during these critical times.

“We at Meralco are one with the government in providing support to our country’s frontliners, as they care and nurse back to health those who are afflicted with Covid-19.

The immediate conversion of the three facilities into health centers is crucial, and we will do our part by ensuring fast, adequate and safe energization,” he said.

Espinosa said reliable power is also critical as it committed uninterrupted flow of electricity to the temporary structures.

“We will also take it upon ourselves to assist in relieving these establishments of any additional costs resulting from the government’s mission of accommodating the growing number of Covid-19 patients,” he added.

Apart from providing electrical system upgrade and fast energization, Meralco, with other corporate entities, commits to subsidizing all of the electricity expenses that the temporary health facilities will incur, based on the consumption utilized while operating as Covid-19 health centers.

In a unified effort to provide the best possible healthcare and medical services to front-liners and patients, Meralco and the Ayala Group will cover costs for World Trade Center health facility’s total electricity consumption.

Together with the Razon Group, Meralco will also shoulder the electricity costs of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium while for the PICC health facility, Meralco will be sharing the expenses for electricity with the San Miguel Corporation group.

Meralco earlier assured the public it will keep the lights on and continue to serve mission critical health facilities with utmost attention and priority since these facilities operate 24/7 to ensure unhampered service to patients.

“We will continue working hard to give medical workers and front-liners the reliable service they need now more than ever.

All hands are on deck to ensure these new health facilities are constructed according to the planned timelines, and run like clockwork once they begin operations. Meralco continues to keep up the good fight and sustain our mission to keep the lights on for our brave front-liners and afflicted patients,” Espinosa added. (PR)