Meralco Places Crews on 24-Hour Standby for the Philippines' Hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit
Key Takeaways
- •Meralco has placed crews and equipment on 24-hour standby ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits hosted by the Philippines.
- •The utility inspected key summit venues in Pasay, Manila and Makati to confirm critical facilities are in good condition and lower the risk of power disruptions.
- •The venue inspections were carried out in coordination with the Department of Energy's Task Force on Energy Resiliency, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.
- •Meralco said completed facility checks, secured personnel clearances and pre-positioned standby teams will allow a prompt response to any power-related concerns during the summit.
- •Meralco served 8.4 million customers as of the end of September, a 2% increase from 8.2 million a year earlier.
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country's largest power distributor, has placed its crews on round-the-clock standby to help secure a reliable electricity supply as the Philippines hosts the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits, the flagship meeting of the Southeast Asian regional bloc.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the power distributor said it inspected the key summit venues in Pasay, Manila and Makati to verify that critical facilities within its franchise area, which spans Metro Manila and nearby provinces, are in good condition and to reduce the risk of power disruptions during the high-level regional gathering.
The inspections were carried out in coordination with the Department of Energy's Task Force on Energy Resiliency, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, which operates the country's power transmission network, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.
Froilan J. Savet, Meralco's senior vice-president and head of networks, said the company completed the facility inspections, secured the necessary personnel clearances and strategically positioned standby crews and equipment ahead of the summit.
"These measures will allow us to respond promptly to any power-related concerns and support the reliable operation of facilities within our service area during the event," he said.
Meralco added that it is working closely with government agencies and industry partners to help ensure uninterrupted power service throughout the summit. Distribution utilities like Meralco sit at the final link of the power supply chain, delivering electricity from the transmission grid to homes, businesses and public facilities.
Mr. Savet said the company's preparations reflect its commitment to supporting national events and initiatives.
"Supporting this important regional event reflects Meralco's commitment to nation-building. We stand ready to help ensure the safe and successful conduct of the summit as well as a productive experience for all its delegates and participants," he said.
Meralco served 8.4 million customers as of the end of September, up 2% from 8.2 million a year earlier.
Meralco's controlling shareholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
