When Typhoon Odette hit several parts of the country in mid-December 2021, the devastation it caused left many Filipinos in the dark during the supposedly festive Christmas season.
But if there’s one thing that became evident days after the typhoon made a series of landfalls, it was that Filipinos, in the spirit of bayanihan, will never hesitate to help each other even in the middle of a pandemic.
With damaged properties, blocked roads, and toppled electricity and communication lines, Visayas and Mindanao received outpouring support from government agencies, the private sector, non-government and civic organizations, and even individual volunteers who came together to assist millions of residents immediately after the typhoon.
Among those that quickly mobilized and provided aid was Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). The distribution utility, which serves Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, recognized the importance of bringing back electricity to the affected areas at the soonest possible time.
14Meralco deployed nearly 200 linemen and engineers to help distributors and electric cooperatives but with the heavy damage left by the typhoon, power restoration proved to be a challenge.
In Cebu, a contingent of more than 80 personnel, along with 21 vehicles, assisted Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) and Mactan Electric Co. (MECO) restore service in several parts of the province.
In Bohol, with the assistance of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), close to 60 personnel, along with 13 vehicles, provided support to Bohol Light Company Inc. and Bohol II Electric Cooperative.
It took more than a month, which stretched beyond the Christmas holidays, before the highly dedicated linemen, engineers, and contractors returned home.
But work for typhoon-hit areas continues for close to 50 personnel who are currently in Surigao del Norte to assist the electric cooperatives in the province.
The efforts, albeit heroic as they are, would not have been possible without the bayanihan spirit that brought many groups together to help the Visayas and Mindanao recover.
Thanks to the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Navy, 2Go Group, PLDT, among others, Meralco was able to transport its personnel, vehicles, and heavy equipment in the affected areas.
“Extending help to our fellow Filipinos within and outside our franchise area, especially when it comes to power restoration after typhoons, has always been part of Meralco’s DNA. We are very blessed to have employees who understand this and also exemplify malasakit, which is one of our core values,” according to Meralco Senior Vice President at Head of Networks Ronnie L. Aperocho.
“Despite the holiday season and the ongoing pandemic, we did not experience any difficulty in forming contingents who are more than willing to help. We will continue helping those affected by Typhoon Odette the best way we can,” he added.
One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the company’s social development arm, also coordinated with other non-profit organizations and local government units for the distribution of close to 5,000 relief packages to affected families in Siargao Island, Surigao, Leyte, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Dinagat Islands and Guihulngan in Negros Oriental.
In Dinagat Islands and Siargao Island, OMF distributed 140 solar torches and some generator sets to help the affected residents. It also coordinated with Power 4 All for the distribution of solar flashlights.
Heroes’ Welcome
Unbeknownst to many, Meralco’s dedicated and hardworking linemen and engineers had to spend the Christmas holidays away from their families, with little to no rest, to answer the call of duty.
It was through their compassion for their fellowmen that they were able to tide through the challenges that come with helping restore electricity service to bring light of hope to those who are still reeling from the impact of the typhoon.
That’s why when 43 of the contingent from Cebu and Bohol returned to Manila on January 26, a crowd of proud colleagues and partners from Meralco, 2Go Group and the Philippine Coast Guard surprised them with a simple but meaningful heroes’ welcome.
Ronneil Reyes, a foreman at the Meralco Pasig Sector, said he was happy to be home after spending Christmas Day and New Year away from his family for the first time.
But he knew that their efforts to help fellow Filipinos in Cebu was a worthy cause.
“Basta full effort po kami. Kahit umulan po o umaraw, kahit gabi po nagtatrabaho po kami para mapabilis lalo ‘yung restoration,” Reyes told reporters during the Heroes’ Welcome.
Meralco’s Mr. Aperocho also commended the linemen for a job well done, saying: “We want them to know that we appreciate all their sacrifices because it is not easy to be away from their family especially during Christmas and New Year.”
OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao also expressed Meralco’s gratitude to the people working together to help the Odette-hit areas: “Thanks to the bayanihan of so many stakeholders, including our partners, our kababayans severely affected by the typhoon are now recovering.”
“I would like to express gratitude to 2Go and its team for helping us bring our trucks and other vehicles needed to support the power restoration work in Cebu and Bohol,” he added.
Besides helping transport the returning Meralco personnel, 2Go also brought home 23 vehicles of Meralco that were used in the power restoration efforts.
For 2Go Vice President and Head of Shipping Dan Fernan, his gratefulness to the support of the Meralco personnel was personal.
“As a native of Cebu, I want to express my heartfelt and deep personal thanks to OMF and to all the linemen who helped re-power Cebu. I was there a few days after the typhoon, and it was really devastated. It’s very heartening to see that we have partnerships with very good organizations that at least allow us to help out,” shared Fernan.
Compassionate linemen hailed
In a social media post, Bohol Governor Arthur Yap acknowledged that there were “no weekends, no holidays for Meralco team” who are unwavering in their work to help restore power in the province. He also thanked OMF for the generator sets that powered the much-needed water refilling stations in the province.
“It is truly in your DNA to serve beyond your service areas,” Yap said.
Cebu News Workers Multipurpose Cooperative Elias Baquero also extolled the sacrifices of Meralco personnel.
“We appreciate the sacrifices made by Meralco linemen and engineers who spent their holidays away from their families in solidarity with the crew of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in our province,” he said.
“Even if we are outside its franchise area, Meralco was among the first to help Cebu. We have witnessed not only their dedication to provide electricity service but also their compassion for their fellowmen who were severely affected by the typhoon,” added Baquero, who is also a director of Cebu City Cooperative Development Council, a special body of the Cebu City government.
Baquero said the manpower assistance was of great help to the province because employees of the electricity distributors were also affected by the typhoon.
“It has been a real challenge to restore power in all households and establishments in Cebu but we are very hopeful that through the continuing bayanihan of people who are working non-stop to restore electricity service, all homes will be energized soon,” he said.