Meralco office in Pasig City padlocked

The Pasig City government padlocked the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) branch office in Barangay Oranbo yesterday for alleged violations of various city ordinances .

Pasig City Mayor Soledad Eusebio ordered the closure of the Meralco office, not for collecting exorbitant electricity rates from her constituents, but for violating a number of city ordinances and local government laws.

Eusebio explained the Meralco office has failed to comply with the basic requirements under the law.

"Nobody is above the law, and everyone must comply with it," the mayor said.

In a closure order dated June 4 and addressed to Jesus Francisco, Meralco president, Pasig Legal Officer Ricardo Castillo said the electric company wantonly disregarded or ignored a notice of illegal construction and a cease and desist order issued by the local Office of the Building Permits last March 7.

The STAR tried to reach Francisco for comment but failed.

Castillo noted that Meralco also failed to secure the required clearances from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the required location clearance from the Pasig City government.

Eusebio also pointed out that the Meralco office was located at the Medium Intensity Commercial Zone, which also violated the city’s zoning ordinance.

Eusebio explained her office received a petition letter from local residents regarding the ill-effects of the electric firm’s sub-station on their health.

The residents also expressed fears that in case of an accident, they will be the most affected as the Meralco office was situated in the middle of residential homes, said Eusebio.

The closure order also directed Superintendent John Sosito, Pasig City police chief, to assist in the implementation of the said directive. – Non Alquitran