DOE: PH needs at least P85 billion to achieve 100% electrification

The government needs to spend at least P85 billion to provide electricity to all households in the entire Philippine archipelago, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Wednesday.

"Ang estimates natin sa ngayon upang magkaroon ng 100% electrification of all households (Based on our current estimates to achieve 100% electrification of all households), we will have to spend something like between P85 to P100 billion," DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla said in a public briefing.

Once the target is reached, however, electrification of all homes would contribute more than P400 billion to the economy, according to the Energy chief.

The 2023-2032 National Total Electrification Roadmap (NTER) aims to hit 100% electrification in 2028 by providing electricity access to remote and far-flung areas.

To achieve this, the NTER will apply four electrification strategies: Household electrification – regular connection, distribution line extension, standalone home system, and microgrid system.

Approximately 25.3 million households in the Philippines have been electrified, while some 2.5 million households remained unserved, recent DOE data showed. This means that an estimated 10.25 million Filipinos still need access to electricity. — VDV, GMA Integrated News