The Manila Electric Company assured its customers that crewmen are ready to respond to any electricity service concern that may arise due to the southwest monsoon rains.
Meralco said in a statement on Monday, it is actively monitoring weather advisories and coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure timely action given the heightened risk of flooding.
The company also reminds customers to prioritize safety and take preventive measures against electrical hazards, especially in flood-prone areas. If floodwaters begin to enter their homes, customers should immediately turn off the main electrical power switch or circuit breaker.
“We remind our customers to take extra precautions to ensure their safety, especially with the increased threat of flooding, which poses a greater risk of electrical accidents,” Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications, said.
The company urged the public to avoid handling circuit breakers or fuses with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface, and to unplug appliances from wall sockets.
Meralco said that the public is encouraged to turn off permanently connected equipment and unscrew all light bulbs if possible and to avoid contact with exposed or dangling wires and to consult licensed electricians to inspect electrical systems after floodwaters recede before turning them back on.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA), in a separate advisory, said that it has also ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of Tropical Cyclone Jacinto and the southwest monsoon to the farm sector.
Based on DA’s Bulletin No. 4 issued at 12 noon on Monday, in response to the needs of farmers affected by the weather disturbances, the agency said it prepositioned 124 094 bags of rice, 83,761 bags of corn, and 14,136 bags of vegetable seeds.
DA said that 2,392,270 bags of rice from the National Food Authority are ready for issuance to local government units and relief agencies.
The agency noted that a quick response fund is available for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected areas, with a loanable amount of up to P25,000 from the Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, payable over three years at zero interest.
DA assured that insured farmers would be indemnified for their losses through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.
