NEA close to achieving electrification target

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said it is close to achieving its goal under the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) a few months before June 30, 2016, the target completion date.

From October 2011 to November 2015, NEA was able to connect to the grid a total of 30,023 sitios across the country. This brings the sitio electrification level to 97.66 percent.

Meanwhile, consumer connection was raised to 11.076 million, with an additional 440,360 consumers connected so far in 2015, according to NEA data.

NEA recently reported energizing the 30,000th sitio and the 11,000,000th household with the help of partner-electricity cooperatives nationwide.

The agency is referring to Sitio Malipayon in Sagay City. It is located within the coverage area of Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco). Consumer Luisa Laguyo of Sitio Nompolia, Hungduan, Ifugao, meanwhile, was the beneficiary of the 11,000,000th household connected, which is under the coverage area of the Ifugao Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ifelco).

NEA Administrator Edita S. Bueno said these milestones reflect the strengthened partnership of the agency and the electric cooperatives (ECs) in bringing power to a majority of underserved sitios in the country and helping people in these communities gain access to basic social services and enjoy livelihood opportunities.

She said the SEP is a way for government to bring services to Filipinos who are far from the metropolis and have long endured the difficulties of having no electricity.

Bueno said she is optimistic of attaining the target next year with the unprecedented support of the Aquino administration and the commitment of 119 ECs nationwide.

The Aquino administration has so far approved a total of P22.31 billion subsidy assistance to NEA to implement the program.