Meralco on standby on New Year’s Eve

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will provide 24hour assistance during the New Year celebration, the company said in a statement issued yesterday.

Elpi Cuna, Meralco vice president for corporate communication, said emergency crews will be on alert, most especially on New Year’s Eve and throughout the holidays, to ensure that Meralco will be able to respond to any contingency. Contingency measures are already in place in case their facilities get affected by pyrotechnics and firecracker explosions, Cuna added.

"We advise the general public not to play with firecrackers and pyrotechnics near our facilities most especially electric lines and transformers because these may cause power interruptions, and even start fires. To ensure safety, people should remember that firecrackers and pyrotechnics near electric facilities is a dangerous mix," Cuna warned.

Although Meralco regularly upgrades and maintains its facilities to ensure that they are in top condition, overhead lines are still vulnerable to firecracker explosions and pyrotechnics, Cuna stressed. In case of emergencies, Meralco customers can call the company’s 24hour call center at 16211. "Our call center is ready to respond to customers’ needs at any given time. Its service is available 24/7," Cuna said.