Meralco: 73,000 still without power

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said power restoration works continued, with the number of its consumers affected now down to around 73,000, as of 3 p.m. Friday. In a statement, Meralco said the remaining consumers hit by service interruptions were mostly in Metro Manila and Bulacan. Some areas in Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas were also affected. Of the total affected consumers, more than 57,000 were in flooded areas.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE) reminded fuel retailers in the capital region and nearby provinces to “promptly assess the quality of their fuel products stored in underground tanks post-flooding.” “If contamination is detected, selling from the affected tank must stop until remedial actions are taken and contaminated products are replaced,” the DOE added. —LISBET K. ESMAEL