Electrification program nearly complete - NEA

MANILA, Philippines - The government has nearly completed its targeted electrification program for rural areas in the Philippines. The National Electrification Administration on Friday announced that it has spent some P49.32 billion as of June 2009 for the country’s rural electrification program. The NEA is celebrating its 40th anniversary. A total of 8.27-million consumers have been connected to the grid because of the electrification program, representing about 98 percent of the project. NEA administrator Edita Bueno said P6,000 is spent for the connection of each barangay. Of the total amount used for the program, more than two-thirds, P37.64 billion, came from loans, and P11.68 billion were from subsidies, Bueno said. The Arroyo administration is expecting to complete the barangay electrification by end of this year. NEA, which is set to hold an International Convention on Rural Electrification (ICORE) with its theme “Greenlight at 40", said there are only 743 barangays left to be electrified For the next months, the agency is eyeing to energize some 824 more barangays Bulk of the electrification program, Bueno added, was carried out under the Arroyo administration. “We are grateful for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s unwavering support which remains unsurpassed by the others who came ahead of her. From her assumption to the presidency in 2001 up to date, the level of barangay electrification increased from 77 percent to 98 percent or an acceleration by 21 percent," she said. Within this period, she noted that some 7,408 barangays all over the country were energized, of which 5,773 were undertaken by NEA and the ECs (electric cooperatives), armed by a P4-billion support from the government. “We likewise acknowledge the full support of the Department of Energy attached agencies under the leadership of Secretary Angelo T. Reyes, the other private energy industry partners and funding institutions, in speeding-up the attainment of 100 percent barangay electrification," she added. GMANews.TV