Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said its crews are working non-stop to restore power in areas affected by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong), prioritizing the safety of customers and linemen as strong winds and rains persist.

As of 10:00 a.m., the number of affected customers had dropped to 197,000, down from more than 400,000 reported at midnight. Of those still without electricity, about 10,000 customers remain in flooded areas where restoration work is being conducted with caution.

The majority of remaining outages are in Cavite, Bulacan, Quezon, and Metro Manila, with additional reports from Rizal, Laguna, and Batangas.

“We continue to actively monitor the weather situation in light of persisting strong winds and rains brought about by the super typhoon. We ask our customers for patience and understanding as we have to prioritize safety during the conduct of power restoration activities,” said Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga.

Meralco reminded the public to practice electrical safety measures, especially in flooded communities. The company advised residents to:

• Switch off the main electrical power or circuit breaker.
• Stay dry when handling electrical facilities.
• Unplug appliances and turn off permanently connected equipment.
• Clean service equipment and main circuit breakers using rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes.
• Allow all electrical wires and devices to dry completely before inspection by a licensed electrician.

Meralco also cautioned against using flood-damaged electrical appliances and urged the public to prioritize safety before restoring power inside their homes.

Zaldarriaga emphasized the importance of responsible communication during disasters, advising customers to rely only on official updates. “In these challenging times, responsible sharing matters. Spreading unverified information only adds to fear and confusion during these situations,” he said.

The company encouraged customers to keep devices fully charged and maintain open communication lines for emergency updates.

For power outage reports and service concerns, customers may contact the Meralco Hotline at 16211, text 0920-9716211 or 0917-5516211, or reach Meralco through its official social media pages on Facebook (facebook.com/meralco) and Twitter (@meralco).

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