Some Caloocan residents have no electricity amid COVID-19 quarantine

Residents of Barangay 182 in Caloocan are bearing the brunt of the summer heat without electricity to power not only their aircons and fans but also their boosters for their water supply.

According to In Ian Cruz report on "24 Oras", the residents said an unidentified individual destroyed a power line transformer a week before the start of the enhanced community quarantine.

"Hindi po natin masasabi na talagang naco-comply natin ang enhanced quarantine natin dahil 'yung iba dahil sa init, talagang lumalabas. So ang hirap-hirap din po namin mag-saway sa mga residente," barangay kagawawd Mona Lorgonio said.

The power outage has also reportedly affected their water supply.

One resident, Rhon Palmera, a 1991 Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist in Pencak silat, urged the Philippine Government and local government unit to restore their supply.

"Ang appeal namin sa ating National Government at sa ating local local government unit, ibalik 'yung serbisyo ng kuryente atsaka 'yung sapat na tubig dito sa gaming Lugar, kasi magiging problem kami dito," Palmera said.

"We are almost 40,000 individual residents in two barangays," he added.

Some residents, meanwhile, have used their savings to install solar panels.

"Ito talaga ang paraan namin para mag-karoon. Kasi 'yung apo ko kailangan eh, three-years-old pa lang 'yan," Abdresa Sarmiento said.

According to the City Administrator of Caloocan, they have delivered water supplies to Barangay 181 and 182.

However, the lack of electricity is still being solved as legal talks are still underway between the city hall, a company with claim to the barangay lands, and Meralco.

Only two barangay halls, schools, and health centers were given electricity supply in accordance with the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act.

"Hindi na-energize ni Meralco 'yung ating community per advise of their legal counsel [ng] Meralco," Engineer Oliver Hernandez, City Administrator, said.

"So again, ngayon ay hindi pa rin tumitigil ang order ni Mayor to go to legal batttle. We will go to the court again to file petition or case," he added.

Meralco, meanwhile, said it has provided critical areas with electricity.

"We have already energized and provided electric service to critical areas such as the community clinics, barangay hall, and other areas imbued with public interest," Atty. William Pamintuan, Meralco SVP general counsel and legal and corporate governance head, said.

"For the others, however, there is currently a legal dispute between those residing in the community and parties claiming ownership over the property," he added.

The residents have asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government for help so they could have their power supply back. -NB, GMA News