kite flying

Since the start of the enhanced community quarantine, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) recorded 47 power outages due to kites getting entangled on power lines.

According to Darlene Cay's Friday report on 24 Oras, the linemen of Meralco have had to remove 260 kites each day from utility posts and power lines in Metro Manila and other neighboring areas.

Meralco said that these had affected more than 700 customers as well as 13 hospitals in Taguig, Tayabas, Masinag, Lancaster, Santa Maria in Bulacan, Candelaria, and Bacoor.

While they did not have exact data on the increase of kite-flying activities, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga acknowledged that the hazard had increased.

"We will soon get more details once the numbers have been finalized in terms of the interruptions because of kite-flying ngayong naka-lockdown tayo because of the ECQ. Medyo nakakabahala na din po ito," Zaldarriaga said.

Zaldarriage then appealed to the public to refrain from the activity.

"Let's refrain from doing that. Nakikiusap po ako sa ating mga kababayan, 'wag na ho muna tayong magpalipad ng saranggola," he said.

"Hindi po ito nakakatulong bagkus ay nakakaperwisyo po ito hindi lamang po sa amin sa Meralco, higit sa lahat sa taumbayan na umaasa patuloy na serbisyo ng Meralco lalo na 'yung mga vital facilities tulad ng hospital," he added.

Meralco had started coordinating with local government units for stricter monitoring of kite flying near power lines. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News

This article 47 power outages due to kite-flying recorded since ECQ was originally published in GMA News Online.