The National Electrification Administration (NEA) heads into the New Year with great enthusiasm, as preparations continue for the launch of one of its flagship projects, the Digital Dashboard Command Center (DDCC).

NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said that he looks forward to working with Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) and Cebu III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEBECO 3), which will serve as pilot co-ops for the first phase of DDCC.

Both electric cooperatives (ECs) were selected because they already have Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems in place. The NEA aims to collaborate with government agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to prepare other ECs in relation to the SCADA system and the DDCC.

Administrator Almeda told EC officials at a thanksgiving gathering held last 18 December 2023 that NEA aims to roll out the DDCC and hook up 60 ECs within 2024.

Further, the Administrator stated that he is working closely with the Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) Partylist Representative Sergio C. Dagooc on a potential collaboration with DOST regarding the initiative.  

“[Congressman] Dagooc mentioned to me the willingness of the DOST to help those co-ops (that are) not financially capable to for the SCADA system to be incorporated in their operations.” Administrator Almeda said.

Assuming that this proposed collaboration pushes through, the NEA chief said that it will greatly benefit the ECs, so they would not be left behind in terms of reaping the potential advantages of this development.

“Hopefully, hulog ng Diyos ang Department of Science and Technology at makatulong ang national government para makumpleto natin that all our 121 co-ops are globally competitive in integrating their systems into the digital command center,” Administrator Almeda said.

The NEA has been pushing for the DDCC to enable the Agency to better facilitate ground support for the ECs and serve their member-consumer-owners better. ###