Residents form long queue in QC barangay hall to charge phones

As parts of Luzon and Metro Manila remain without power in the aftermath of Typhoon Glenda, lives that have become highly dependent on electricity and mobile phones were bound to be unsettled.

A report on GMA News' "24 Oras" said many cellphone users were lining up in establishments that have generators despite the long queues and the possibility of leaving with their batteries yet to have fully charged.
 

In Bagong Silangan in Quezon City, hundreds of residents flocked to the barangay hall to have their mobile phones charged.

 

According to the report, Barangay Silangan had been without power since Tuesday and the officers provided a generator that operated for 23 hours a day.

 

Each person is allowed to charge one mobile phone during their turn.
 

With limited amounts of communication options available, residents chose to charge their mobile phones at the barangay hall.

 

“Para may contact kami doon sa Leyte sa kamag anak ko doon. At tsaka isa pa yung mister ko kahapon nasa Malabon siya. So kinakamusta ko po kasi tinamaan din sila ng bagyo doon,” a resident said.

 

While most residents were busy lining up and checking on their mobile phones for messages from their families, at least one came for health reasons.

 

Ruel Sibwa, a man suffering from asthma, lined up so he could use a nebulizer even during the power outage in their area.

 

“Hanggang magka ilaw dito lang ako kasi mayat-maya po ako hinihika,” Sibwa explained.

 

Meanwhile, most businesses including eateries, groceries and convenience stores were also greatly affected by the power outage.

 

“Yung mga softdrinks namin walang bumibili dahil hindi malamig” said Angelica de la Cruz, a store clerk.

A shop selling gadgets had difficulty selling any of its wares as testing electronics required power.
 

Earlier, Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said power had been restored in 81 percent of Metro Manila, but only to 64 percent of its overall franchise area. 

 

Meralco also implemented on Thursday 3-hour emergency rotating brownouts in parts of Manila, Makati, Quezon City, Bulacan and Pasay City due to transmission outages. —Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News