MANILA - Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and telecommunication firms are scrambling to repair damage to their infrastructure and equipment due to the effects of Tropicla Storm “Ondoy.”

Meralco said on Sunday that 13% of affected circuits in Metro Manila remain without power more than a day after floods from “Ondoy” submerged various parts of the metropolis.

Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco External Communications Manager, said floods have slowed power restoration efforts in hard-hit areas where they had to shut off power due to bad weather and the inundation.

Affected substations reportedly include Taguig, Cainta and Bocaue in Bulacan province.

Meantime, he assured the public that efforts were continuing to restore power in affected areas as soon as possible.

“We would like to assure the public that our personnel have been deployed and we will at the restore power the soonest time possible,” said Zaldarriaga.

The number of Meralco customers without power during the height of the effects of “Ondoy” was estimated at 1.2 million, or a little over one-fourth of total registered Meralco customers.

Telcos

Smart-PLDT meanwhile said that efforts to restore mobile phone services are underway amid complaints from subscribers that texting or making calls during the calamity had been difficult.

Subscribers have complained of clogged cellphone networks during the calamity

Ramon Isberto, Smart-PLDT public affairs group head, said that services in some flood-hit areas can be restored within the next 12 to 36 hours.

“In areas where floods have yet to recede we hold back restoration but in other areas where floods have subsided services can be restored within the day… Antipolo and Marikina are okay but parts of Rizal can be a challenge,” said Isberto.

Meantime, Isberto said that they are providing free calls and charging services at Smart stations and are setting up medical assistance in parts of Cainta and Pasig City.

Globe Telecoms also said its network suffered because of the massive flooding.

Jones Campos, Globe public relations division head, told ABS-CBN News Channel that many cell sites had to be shut down after floods damaged their equipment.

Globe however says that with the floods subsiding, their technicians can now repair damaged cellsites.

The Ayala-owned telco said subscribers having problems with their cellphone service can call or text the Globe mobile hotline at 211 or their landline hotline at 730-1000. Reports from ABS-CBN News Channel