TO achieve President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s goal of reaching total electrification by end of his term, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the release of over P3.627 billion to support the implementation of the Strategized Rural Electrification and Operational Reliability for Electric Cooperatives (ECs) for 2025.
DBM Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman approved the release of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the said purpose to the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
“We have released more than P3.627 billion to cover the continuous implementation of NEA’s Rural Electrification Program. Of this amount, based on their report, NEA will be able to cover the energization of 1,752 sitios and five (5) barangays under the 2025 subsidy,” Sec. Mina said.
“Malaking bagay po ‘yan para sa ating mga kababayan na hirap maabot ng serbisyo na mapailawan ang kanilang mga kabahayan. Sa pamamagitan din po nito, maisasakatuparan natin ‘yung ipinag-utos ng Pangulo na bigyang internet connection ang mga paaralan sa malalayong lugar. Kapag may kuryente, magiging epektibo ang pagkakaroon ng connectivity gaano man kalayo,” she added.
The energization of 1,752 sitios will be covered by P3.439 billion under the subsidy for FY 2025 for the Sitio Electrification Program under the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act.
Meanwhile, P68.839 million will rehabilitate five (5) barangays that were previously served by off-grid solutions but deemed unsustainable, through the Barangay Line Enhancement Program.
Further, a total of P120 million will be utilized to procure and distribute 4,000 units of Solar Photovoltaic Mainstreaming to provide electricity to communities without access to reliable power sources.
From 2017-2024 subsidy, the NEA has already energized a total of 9,645 sitios, leaving a balance of 9,622 unenergized targeted sitios to be funded until 2028.
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