The government will allocate P1.45 billion to the fasttrack the country’s barangay energization program.
For next year, the Department of Energy (DOE) has been allotted P200 million while NEA will get an additional P300 million for electric cooperatives (ECs).
President Arroyo in her recent visit to Brgy. Tawala, Panglao in Bohol said she will issue an administrative Order declaring 13 areas where geothermal power is sourced as special economic zones.
Mrs. Arroyo said this move would entice more power producers to invest in the country, which will eventually lead to lower power rates for the consumers.
“Electricity for all is one of the President’s top priority programs, which she vowed to bestow, among others, as a legacy to the Filipino people when she finishes her term in 2010,” Mrs. Arroyo said, during a ceremonial switch-on in the household of a Boholano farmer, Emeriano Loretero, witnessed by both national and local officials.
“What we did was just a ceremonial switch-on because the BOHECOs have already attained 100 percent barangay energization since 2004. But this is what we commit to do that by 2009 the government will finally conquer darkness with the attainment of a 100 percent barangay electrification rate, just like what the BOHECOs did for Bohol,” the President said.
For her part, NEA Administrator Edita Bueno reported the improvement in BOHECO I systems loss level and its 100 percent status for sitio energization.
Bueno also informed President Arroyo that the country has now attained 95 percent barangay electrification, a significant improvement from 81 percent in 2001.
In turn, Arroyo commended NEA and its implementing arms, the ECs, for an effective impact of the Rural Electrification (RE) Program in the countryside.