By Marjaleen Ramos The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Monday appealed to the public to refrain from flying kites near power lines to prevent blackouts to hospitals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. The utility provider, in a statement, said kites entangled in power lines could cause possible power outage in critical establishments such as hospitals. It added it can also lead to electrocution as high voltage electricity can travel down kite strings. "Let's refrain from doing that . Nakikiusap po ako sa ating mga kababayan, huwag na po muna tayong magpalipad ng saranggola. Hindi po ito nakakatulong bagkus ay nakakaperwisyo po ito hindi lamang po sa amin sa Meralco, higit sa lahat ng taumbayan na umaasa sa patuloy na serbisyo ng Meralco, lalo na yung mga vital facilities tulad ng hospital," said Meralco Public Information Head and Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga. (Let’s refrain from doing that I am requesting our countrymen to refrain from flying kites. It does not help, instead it’s causing problems not just for us at Meralco, but more importantly for the people who are depending on Meralco’s continued services, especially vital facilities like hospitals,) Aside from kites, other foreign objects such as posters, clothing, and building materials, are also getting entangled, Meralco added. From March 16 to April 15, 47 unnecessary power interruptions caused by kites and foreign objects have affected 708,805 customers – 13 of which are frontline hospitals and medical facilities, it said. Meralco cited that several barangays in Quezon City, Bulacan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Tondo, Marikina, Angono, Paranaque and Taguig have already experienced power trips due to foreign objects’ entanglement in power lines. At least 260 kites per day are still being retrieved from power lines since the Luzon-wide lockdown was implemented last March 17, it said. Meralco also urged the public to pitch in and help keep each other safe by staying home.