Visayan Electric resumes full operations in GCQ areas

https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2020/05/22/2015675/visayan-electric-resumes-full-operations-gcq-areas
Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman) - May 22, 2020 - 12:00am

CEBU, Philippines — The Visayan Electric has resumed its full operations following the transition to General Community Quarantine in most areas within its franchise starting last Wednesday.

"Visayan Electric has made preparations to incorporate the new normal in its operations to protect its employees and its customers and to ensure continued service to the public,” said Engr. Raul C. Lucero, President and Chief Operating Officer in a press statement.

Visayan Electric also announced that disconnection will resume in areas under GCQ starting June 1 for those accounts that have arrears before March 15.

"There will be no disconnection in areas that are still on Enhanced Community Quarantine and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine," it said.

It said that customers located in GCQ areas with bills that are due before March 15 are encouraged to settle their accounts through any of Visayan Electric’s third party agents or through online partners to avoid disconnection.

It said that bills that are due from March 15 to May 15 are automatically enrolled in a payment arrangement that will be divided into four equal installment payments that are to be settled within four months, starting on the bill that is due in June.

The distribution utility added that it will implement a strict re-entry protocol for its employees and contractors for business resumption in the areas that are on GCQ. Full operations will resume in the contractor-run office in Glajj Building in Lamac, Consolacion.

Strict social distancing will still be followed in the reopened center and the number of people allowed inside the center will also be limited to protect their employees and contractors, as well as the transacting public.

The electric utility company still encourages its customers, however, to stay at home as much as possible and do inquiries about their bills through the Visayan Electric Facebook page and customer service hotline 230-8326.

Bills can also be monitored through MobileAP, the mobile application for Visayan Electric and the other distribution utilities under AboitizPower.

MobileAP can be downloaded from GooglePlay and the AppStore.

Meanwhile, Visayan Electric facilities in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay, including its main office along J. Panis Street in Banilad, will continue to operate under a skeleton workforce. Most of the employees will still be working from their respective homes and only those who need to be onsite will be allowed to report to the office.

Visayan Electric is the second largest electric distribution utility in the country. It serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay and Naga, as well as the municipalities of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla and San Fernando. FPL (FREEMAN)