The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) targets to provide all its unserved and underserved customers within its franchise area with nonstop electricity this year after earmarking P1.1 billion for the initiative. Ronnie Aperocho, Meralco senior vice president and head of networks, told reporters on Monday that the power distributor would energize 536 sites under its Priority Projects 2 and 3, covering 27,038 households. It already energized 296 sites, while 240 are under construction. This initiative would be completed by June, according to him. Meralco currently has an energization level of 55 percent. 'Despite the community quarantine, we remain committed to [bringing] light to our unserved and underserved customers through our Meralco Electrification Program,' Aperocho said. 'With the completion of these projects, Meralco would have already complied with the 100-percent household electrification as envisioned by the DoE (Department of Energy) and the Duterte administration,' he added. Meralco shares added P5 or 1.81 percent to close at P281 each on Wednesday.
