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Meralco resumes service disconnection activities in NCR amid Alert Level 4 status


Meralco on Thursday announced it is resuming service disconnection activities in the National Capital Region (NCR) amid the imposition of the Alert Level 4 status in the region.

Meralco has suspended service disconnection activities in Metro Manila since the reimposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20 and until the prolonged shift to modified ECQ from August 21 to September 15.

“With the NCR placed under the new GCQ (general community quarantine) with Alert Level 4 beginning September 16… disconnection activities will resume in NCR,” the power distributor said.

It said that service disconnection activities in NCR will resume with the delivery of disconnection notices for services with unpaid overdue bills next week.

The service disconnection notices give customers enough time to settle their bills or to reach out for assistance, the company said.

Meanwhile, Meralco said that service disconnection activities in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Lucena City in Quezon remain suspended until September 30, 2021, as these areas have been placed under MECQ until the end of the month.

The company, nonetheless, assured customers that disconnection activities will remain suspended in areas that will be placed under granular lockdown by local government units.

“We encourage customers with billing concerns to reach out, so we can assist them and even come up with payment terms if needed. We will continue to be very considerate of the challenges our customers are facing amid these difficult times,” said Ferdinand Geluz, Meralco first vice president and chief commercial officer.

Meralco said customers may get in touch conveniently and safely by sending a private or direct message through Meralco Facebook and Twitter accounts, or call the 16211 hotline.

If they still need to go to the Meralco Business Centers (BCs), they may book an online appointment through the Meralco website for a safe and hassle-free transaction, the company said.

Meralco BCs are open to accept payments, applications and customer assistance. Business hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays for payment transactions only.

Meralco said its crews will also continue to be on standby 24/7 to respond to any emergencies and reports.

Customers under lockdown find it hard to pay

Amid the new lockdown scheme, some Meralco customers lamented that it is still difficult for them to pay their electric bill because of lack of income.

According to Bernadette Reyes' "24 Oras" report, Vicky de Leon said she can't pay their P27,000 Meralco bill for months because her husband, a tricycle driver, and her business are not receiving any customers.

"Kada lockdown 'di kami makatrabaho, walang biyahe ang triciycle, walang sumasakay. Ang negosyo ko siyempre walang pera ang tao, walang maibili ng pagkain," de Leon said.

(We are not able to work during lockdowns. Tricycles could not work during pandemic, some people refuse to ride inside the tricycles. People are not buying what I am selling because they do not have money.)

Just like De Leon, Aldrin Bacani is also having difficulty using all his funds for electric bills because he still needs to provide for his family.

"Sa hirap ng buhay, tatlo anak ko. Siyempre kapag ibayad ko 'yun, wala na akong papakain sa anak ko po, (Life is so difficult these days, I have three children. If I pay all our electric bills, I will not be able to feed my children.)," Bacani, whose electric bill costs P17,000, said.—Ted Cordero/Consuelo Marquez/KBK/LDF, GMA News

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