₱70B needed over next 5 years to achieve full electrification – DOE

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) – Around ₱70 billion is needed over the next five years to provide electricity to every household by 2028, the Department of Energy said Friday during a Senate budget hearing.

“Kung susundin yung plano, sana [₱]12 billion yung budget nila for that program next year sa 2024 tapos, aakyat pa yan sa [₱]14 billion sa 2025,” Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said.

[Translation: If we follow the plan, we hope that they will have a budget of ₱12 billion for 2024 and then, it will increase to ₱14 billion in 2025.]

The Budget Department, however, slashed the funding for the Sitio Electrification Program and Barangay Line Enhancement Program for next year from ₱6 billion to ₱2 billion.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said the amount can only reach 500 instead of 2,000 unserved sitios.

NEA chief Antonio Almeda said the agency plans to provide power to 17,250 households each year in 2024 and 2025. It is also targeting to reach 97% electrification by 2026 and 100% by 2027, he added.

Almeda said 2028 will be devoted to providing electricity to remaining households not covered in previous years.

“Our target really is — basing it on the pronouncement of the president — by 2028, we can confidently say it's 100% electrified, and nobody will be left behind,” Almeda said

During his second State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said “100% electrification is within our reach,” noting that half a million homes have secured access to electricity within one year into his presidency.

READ: Marcos: 100% electrification ‘within reach’ by 2028

The Senate approved the ₱2.6 billion budget of DOE but the agency could get a higher outlay during plenary deliberations.