The National Electrification Administration (NEA) announced the detailed expenditure plan for the government’s P3.6 billion allocation for the rural electrification program this year, with a significant focus on Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) nationwide. This substantial budget increase reflects the government’s renewed commitment to achieving total electrification by 2028.
According to data from the NEA Total Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Department (TEREDD), Mindanao will receive the largest share of the funding, with P2.5 billion, representing 68 percent of the total budget. This allocation will support proposed electrification projects across key provinces, including Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Sur, North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, and Sulu. Upcoming programs are also slated for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), specifically in Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte and Sur, and Lanao del Sur.
Luzon has been allocated the second-highest funding at P701.2 million (19 percent), earmarked for projects in Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan. The Visayas region will receive P462.6 million (13 percent) to enhance electricity services in Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda highlighted the significant increase in this year’s budget during a recent radio interview, noting that the P3.6 billion released by the Department of Budget Management (DBM) is a stark improvement from the P1.6 billion to P1.8 billion received in previous years. “This reflects the commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to enhance electricity services, particularly in the GIDAs, which remain underserved to this day,” Administrator Almeda stated. He added that this increased funding will significantly boost NEA’s chances of meeting the total electrification target by 2028.
The state-owned corporation is actively implementing a comprehensive three-pronged approach to illuminate the countryside. This strategy includes the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP), the Barangay Line Enhancement Program (BLEP), and the Solar Photovoltaic Mainstreaming Program (PVM).
Administrator Almeda described the PVM as a “gamechanger” for the rural electrification industry, enabling the NEA to provide electricity to hard-to-reach areas. This year, the NEA aims to distribute approximately 50,000 to 60,000 solar home systems (SHS) in far-flung communities. Through its partnership with 121 electric cooperatives nationwide, the NEA has already rolled out 26,292 SHS units. “It’s an uphill climb and challenging, but the NEA is fully determined to reach people on the mountainside,” Administrator Almeda affirmed.
