DOE asked to fund electrification of city's mountain barangays

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has asked the Department of Energy (DOE) to fund the electrification of some mountain barangays by charging the needed P2.1 million from the government’s missionary electrification program.

Councilor Roberto “Bob” Cabarrubias strongly believed that providing electricity to the residents of the city’s upland areas would help them extend their working hours even after sunset.

He said the lack of electricity in these remote areas leads to limited job opportunities and low productivity among residents and bringing electricity there will surely boost the income of the people in these areas and even encourage them to engage in business.

Missionary electrification refers to the provision of basic electric service in unviable areas with the ultimate aim of bringing the operations in these areas to viability levels. The funds allocated for the program will be used to expand and rehabilitate facilities for new areas of development based on the approved missionary electrification development plan.

It was agreed by the City Council that the copy of the resolution requesting for the electrification of some mountain barangays would be sent to DOE regional director Antonio Labios for further action.

The areas recommended for electrification are sitio Mangabon in barangay Lusaran; sitio Guindawahan, barangay Sudlon 2; sitio Pangi in barangay Buot-Taup and sitio Mac-ac in barangay Sinsin.

The officials of Cebu Electric Cooperative (Cebeco) Inc. said the amount needed for the electrification of said areas would cost P2,165,506 that prompted Cabarrubias to ask for financial assistance from the DOE. – Rene U. Borromeo/WAB (THE FREEMAN)