The Manila electric Co. and Cainta town have agreed to eradicate power pilferage in a campaign that also seeks to stamp out electricity-related accidents.

Mayor Ramon Ilagan signed an agreement with Merlaco chairman Manuel Lopez and chief operating officer Jose de Jesus at the New Cainta Business Center.

“The most common causes of fire incidents are electrical in nature due to electricity pilferage and the use of substandard connections which can lead to loss of properties and lives most especially. These illegal activities are hazardous and should be given a stop in order to save our constituents from harm and death,” Ilagan said.

Lopez said the agreement would redound to lower electricity bills.

“On the average, Meralco has been shouldering as much as P2 billion in system losses per year,” he said.

Meralco is allowed under Republic Act 7832 or the Anti-Electricity Pilferage Law of 1994 to recover 9.5 percent of its system losses, which includes those coming from pilferages by unscrupulous individuals; violators face imprisonment or payment of penalties.

“Cainta will make sure that provisions in the agreement will be strictly enforced to ensure that Cainta remains safe from any electricity-related accidents,” Ilagan said, commending Merlaco for opening recently its first Rizal-based business center. Gigi Muñoz David