Powering the unreached: Vivant Energy leads rural electrification mission

MANILA, Philippines — “The most powerful change begins in the last places the light has yet to reach.”

For Vivant Energy Corporation (VEC) president and COO Emil Andre Garcia, this is more than a statement. It is the company’s guiding principle. Speaking at the 16th National Electrification Awareness Month organized by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (PhilRECA), Garcia defined the Cebu-based conglomerate’s call to action: go where it is toughest to serve, and where others hesitate to go.

The Expo formed part of the 2025 NEA–EC Convergence, held in Bacolod City at the SMX Convention Center, which gathered close to 2,000 delegates from 121 electric cooperatives nationwide in celebration of NEA’s 56th anniversary and PhilRECA’s 46th Annual General Membership Meeting.

NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda called on electric cooperatives to act as “catalysts of progress” and to deliver lasting solutions that raise performance from “just good enough” to excellence. He also announced an ambitious goal to energize all last-mile schools in the country within three years. Of the 2,359 schools still unenergized, 295 are targeted for completion by the end of 2025, with the rest by 2028.

Power as livelihood, learning and dignity

“In the farthest corners of the country, electricity means livelihood, learning and dignity,” Garcia emphasized during the fireside chat “Sparking Rural Growth: Rural Electrification as a Catalyst for Development.”

In remote islands and mountain communities, the absence of reliable power cuts off residents from economic activity, disrupts education and constrains local development. “If you want to change lives, start where the grid ends,” Garcia said. “Thinking and feeling before building ensures our solutions do not just reach communities. They respond to their real needs.”

Impact across the archipelago

Vivant Energy’s rural electrification footprint stretches across the Philippines, from La Union in the north, to the islands of Puerto Princesa and the Calamian Group of Islands in Palawan, through the mountainous heartlands of Bukidnon in Mindanao, and to Bantayan Island, Cebu, where it stands as the sole power provider for the tourism-driven economy.

These are not mere expansion points on a corporate map, but commitments to equitable growth. “We believe real transformation begins where service is most difficult,” Garcia noted.

A booth for dialogue and partnership

Vivant Energy representatives facilitating the booth walk-through for participating electric cooperatives.

At NEA Week, Vivant’s booth became more than an exhibit space. It served as a hub for meaningful dialogue with electric cooperatives, fostering partnerships and rekindling relationships. Through on-ground engagement, Vivant underscored that rural electrification is not just about infrastructure, but also about trust and collaboration.

Nation-building from the outside in

In a country of more than 7,000 islands, the path to full electrification is far from easy. But Vivant Energy is proving it is possible with thoughtful solutions and grounded relationships that move the nation forward from the farthest corners in.

Despite advances in urban electrification, many remote areas across the Philippines remain without access to reliable electricity. This limits economic activity, disrupts essential services, and constrains community growth. In these locations, electricity is more than a utility. It is a critical enabler of opportunities that others take for granted.