NEA sets aside P6.7B for rural program

Manila Times.net
Published : Saturday, January 28, 2012 00:00 Written by : EUAN PAULO C. AÑONUEVO


State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) has allocated bulk of the agency’s budget for the year for rural electrification projects across the country.


Based on the government approved annual budget for the agency, NEA will utilize P6.77 billion for rural electrification out of a total P8.65 billion in allocated funds.


NEA, which is tasked to oversee the operations of electric cooperatives, will use P3.70 billion out of the agency’s own coffers and P500 million from borrowings for capital outlay of countryside electrification projects.


The government, on the other hand, will contribute P2.57 billion to NEA’s rural electrification budget.


The said amount, in particular, will go to sitio electrification and barangay line enhancement projects.


NEA earlier reported that there are 833 sitios scheduled to be energized this year.


There are also 202 barangays that were previously electrified through solar home systems that will be connected to the main grid through a line enhancement program.


Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, however, earlier said that the government is ready to double its rural electrification budget in its bid to improve the country’s overall electrification threshold.


“We have allotted P2.5 Billion this year and if needed, we will be providing an additional P2.5 Billion for a total of P5 Billion to be poured to rural electrification. Our goal is all about energy access for more,” he said.


The country’s household electrification level is placed at only 70 percent with majority of those without electricity located in Mindanao and the Visayas. The government targets to increase this further to over 90 percent by 2017.