MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) said on Thursday that it is stretching its “no-disconnection” policy in its franchise area until May 14 after the government’s decision to extend the second strictest lockdown level in the capital and nearby areas.
“We hope this additional extension will help ease the burden of our customers, while providing the necessary relief and additional time for them to settle their bills,” Meralco First Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz said in a media release.
“Given the current situation and the extended MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine), we continue to take into consideration the challenges our customers are facing amid these difficult times,” he added.
Mr. Geluz said that business operations, including meter reading and bill delivery services, will continue throughout the period.
He assured the distribution utility will strictly implement health protocols for the safety of its workers and customers.
While the firm’s billing centers will remain open during business hours, Meralco encouraged customers to reach out on its social media pages and through its hotline first “as a precaution to the rising coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.”
Mr. Geluz added that Meralco crews will be on standby to respond to any emergencies.
The development comes shortly after President Rodrigo R. Duterte extended the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite in a bid to contain the new surge of COVID-19 infections.
Two weeks ago, Meralco extended its no-disconnection policy until the end of April after the government placed the National Capital Region and nearby areas under MECQ.
Shares of Meralco in the local bourse improved by 1.7% or P4.60 to close at P275.80 apiece on Thursday.
Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT, Inc.
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