The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is working to reach the target 94 percent energization rate of remote households through its partner electric cooperatives (EC) nationwide this 2025.
NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said the state-owned corporation remains optimistic towards achieving its electrification targets despite working under limited budget. He noted that Mindanao provinces are still at the top of NEA’s priorities.
“I was informed that Congress heard already the funding requirement, and we are expecting by 2025, we will be reaching about 94 percent, if all logistical support and funding support will be present,” Administrator Almeda told DZRH radio anchor Raymund Dadpaas on Thursday.
The NEA was granted a total of P1.627-billion in government subsidy to electrify some 22,000 households based on the recently signed 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), plus P200-million for the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund (ECERF).
These figures did not change from the approved subsidy for rural electrification projects in the 2024 GAA, according to NEA Acting Department Manager for Rural Electrification Special Program Office Raymond Napilot.
The government also allocated P2-billion for the ongoing Photovoltaic Mainstreaming (PVM), Sitio Electrification and Barangay Line Enhancement Programs (SEP/BLEP) of the NEA in the 2025 GAA.
Administrator Almeda acknowledged the challenges in securing funds to fully energize remote areas across the country, but the NEA under his leadership aims to build on its progress until it reaches its total electrification goal by 2028.
“We are targeting by 2028, we can fully energize the whole Philippines. But, of course, that requires some funding support. Definitely, with what we have right now, we are doing our best to extend and maximize the supply of electricity on remote areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NEA chief assured that contingency measures in EC franchise areas will be in place this May to ensure the conduct of outage-free national and local elections in public schools and polling stations across the country. ###
