Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) said that the number of affected customers from Severe Tropical Storm ‘Kristine’ has decreased from 535,000 to approximately 397,129. 

These disruptions primarily impact customers in Cavite, Laguna, Quezon Province, Rizal, and Batangas due to ongoing service interruptions.

“We expect this to go down further as the day progresses dahil non-stop ang trabaho ng aming personnel sa mga apektadong lugar… We have been working actually non-stop to restore power as soon as possible,”  said MERALCO Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga.

Zaldarriaga stated that the disruptions were primarily caused by strong gusts that swept across MERALCO’s service zones. 

MERALCO urged customers to take precautionary measures by shutting off the main power supply, unplugging all appliances, disconnecting permanently connected equipment, and removing light bulbs, if feasible, to ensure safety.

Customers are also advised to ensure that all electrical wires, connectors, and devices are thoroughly dried. Once the wiring system and components are dry and clean, they should be inspected by a licensed electrician before use. Flood-damaged appliances should not be turned on.

“Rest assured that we are closely monitoring the situation and our crews are working non-stop to restore service as soon as possible. We urge everyone to prioritize safety and take necessary precautions during this time,” added Zaldarriaga.