Power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will fast-track the relocation of its existing poles that will be affected by projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), primarily the rail systems that will improve the country’s transportation network.
To reinforce collaboration, Meralco officials led by its President and CEO Ray C. Espinosa recently met with Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista; and the company had renewed its "commitment of support" to the ongoing projects of the government.
Espinosa said that “the government can always count on Meralco’s continued and full support for these initiatives which will help spur the Philippines’ post-pandemic recovery and renewed drive towards economic progress.”
He further said the utility firm will carry on on its “pole relocation and energization activities in support of the agency’s ongoing and planned transportation projects geared towards greatly benefiting the public.”
Espinosa emphasized that being the country’s biggest power distribution utility, “Meralco is cognizant of the importance of stable and reliable electric service in the timely completion and effective operations of DOTr’s infrastructure projects.”
Bautista in turn conveyed that “long before these projects become operational, Meralco has been and remains a loyal partner in supplying power critical for these projects to prosper.”
According to the power firm, it has already relocated more than 2,500 poles and had energized 21 facilities in the past two years “to support the government’s infrastructure projects.”
The company added it is currently undertaking poles’ relocation to support the implementation of the NAIAx-EDSA Tramo connecting ramp as well as the Skyway Stage-4 project.
An agreement was inked in May 2019 between Meralco and DOTr for ‘coordination works’ to advance the implementation of government projects in the improvement of the transportation system – and that primarily entails the relocation of poles that could then guarantee the timely completion of the various rail projects of the government -- including the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, the MRT-7 project; Metro Manila Subway and the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul project that spans from Manila to Sorsogon.
The other DOTr projects would be the three-phased North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) system comprising of the: PNR North 1 (from Tutuban to Malolos, Bulacan); PNR North 2 (from Malolos to Clark, Pampanga); and PNR South Commuter (from Solis to Calamba, Laguna).
The supply of power to the DOTr projects would also be one of the paramount concerns that Meralco will be tending to – and these ventures include the: LRT-1 Cavite Extension packages 2 and 3, NSCR Extension from Calamba to Batangas; MRT-4; LRT-2 East Cogeo Extension; LRT-2 West Extension; LRT-6 Cavite Line A; MRT-7 Extension Project; EDSA Greenways; EDSA Bus Rapid Transit-Busway Concourse; Pasig River Expressway; Southern Access Link Expressway; and Northern Access Link.
The utility firm noted it is also working closely with the DOTr “to ensure the timely grant of necessary permits and rights-of-way (ROW) clearances, access and authority for properties within their jurisdiction, in order for Meralco to fully implement the related relocation projects and to continuously operate its electrical facilities.”