Meralco, One Meralco Foundation power up 124 households in Sta. Mesa, Manila through the Household Electrification Program

One Meralco Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Meralco, gave 124 households in Barangay 631 and 633 in Manila safe and reliable access to electricity through its Household Electrification Program.

Through this initiative, low-income and marginalized communities within Meralco's franchise areas that rely on unsecure electrical connection were given support for individual service entrance, allowing them to connect to Meralco's distribution facility.

Street food vendor Mercy Nuqui, one of the beneficiaries of the latest project in Manila, said this eliminates the need to use candles at night, which left unattended can lead to fires. This also means she can stop relying on her neighbor where she submeters her electricity access worth P200 for 10 hours of power.

"I have asthma, so whenever I experience asthma attack, I would run to the health center where there's free electricity for the nebulizer. Now that we have our own electrical line, I can plug it in at home," Nuqui said.

Having her own electrical line allowed senior citizen and carinderia owner Majella Macalino to save more on electricity, compared to that time when she sub-metered with her neighbors.

"With my own access, I pay just a fraction of how much I usually paid before to my neighbor. Now, I can save up more for my child's college fund," she shared.

"What One Meralco Foundation has done is to bring light to our community where some households can't afford to connect to Meralco's electrical service. With your support, they can now stop sub metering, pay a fair amount for their electrical line, and keep their families safe from possible accidents especially as their homes are mostly made of light materials and are prone to fires," shared Barangay Captain Irene R. Rillo, who once fell victim to fire due to faulty wiring.

Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido M. Abante Jr. thanked Meralco for bringing the project to Sta. Mesa as the lawmaker emphasized the goal to achieve the country’s full household electrification by 2028.

"What Meralco has done today is for the improvement of your barangay," he told the residents of Barangay 631 and 633.

Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul" C. Nieto also highlighted the importance of the Household Electrification Program, saying it can deter unsafe practices that lead to fire and other life-threatening incidents.

"Meralco, thank you for bringing this project to our city and I hope that more residents can have safe electrical access at home."

“No household should be left in the dark, and we in One Meralco Foundation aim to help bridge that gap with the help of our partner LGUs,” One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey O. Tarayao said.

Meralco is one with the Marcos administration in its goal to energize all households across the country by 2028.

PHOTO: One Meralco Foundation energizes 124 households in Barangay 631 and 633 in Sta. Mesa, Manila through its Household Electrification Program. As seen from left to right: Meralco Head of España-Tutuban Business Center Dante B. Longboen, One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey O. Tarayao, Barangay 631 Chair Irene R. Rillo, Manila City Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul” C. Nieto, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante Jr., Meralco HMB-Central Business Area OIC Head Juan Paolo P. Cruz, OMF Program Manager Michael J. del Rosario.

PHOTO: No more candles at night. Mercy Nuqui now has her own electrical access at home through One Meralco Foundation's Household Electrification Program.

PHOTO: Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido M. Abante Jr. thanked Meralco for bringing the Household Electrification Program to Sta. Mesa, Manila.

PHOTO: Manila City Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul” C. Nieto said he hopes that more households in Manila would soon be given access to safe electricity.