SAN ISIDRO, Nueva Ecija—The utility that distributes electricity in Gapan City and towns in the province’s fourth legislative district has extended its temporary closure to Aug. 24 to 28 as it awaits results of coronavirus tests on employees.
The Nueva Ecija 1 Electric Cooperative (NEECO 1) said it was heeding the Department of Health (DOH) protocol that required its employees to go on home quarantine.
Because of the shutdown, the utility said it would not charge consumers for power bills that are due on August 17 – 28 or enforce disconnections.
NEECO 1 had earlier closed its offices in this municipality and its district offices in Gapan City and the towns of Cabiao, Jaen, San Antonio, and San Leonardo from Aug. 17 to 21 for massive disinfection after several employees contracted the virus.
NEECO 1 will reopen its offices on Aug. 31, but will deploy only a skeletal crew of technical services workers and linemen.
The Nueva Ecija Inter-Agency Task Force has counted a total of 347 COVID-19 cases with 166 recoveries and 16 fatalities.