DoE pushes to accelerate electrification in socially-challenged areas
THE PHILIPPINE LANDSCAPE is seeing a dynamic change amid the accelerating population especially in the urban areas.
Among the fastest-growing household sectors in these areas are the informal settlers, which utilities shun from electrifying due to the risk of increasing their low-income customer base and issues on reliability of payments, legality of structures, safety concerns and other technical risks.
Under President Duterte’s administration, it has been a national imperative for all citizens, including informal settlers, to enjoy their constitutional right to basic electricity services. Hence, Department of Energy ( DoE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and his team met last July 7 with Manila Electric Co. ( Meralco) President and Chief Executive Officer Oscar S. Reyes and the utility’s bigwigs to discuss this matter which involves their franchise areas.
As a result, a total of 23,157 households were energized from the period of July 8 to Nov. 25 through the existing MeralcoNational Housing Authority partnership, the Relocatees and Informal Settlers ( RAISE) Program, Elevated Metering Centers, the Balik Liwanag Program and those financed by the LGUs of Quezon City and Cavite City.
The DoE has identified the following priority areas to be electrified: Gaya- Gaya and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan and Southville in Muntinlupa.
Also included were the following areas in Tondo, Manila: Baseco Compound, Isla Putting Bato, Parola Area and Happy Land Aroma.
Other areas that have benefitted from these programs include: Angono, Cainta, Marikina, Masinag, Rosario; In Laguna: Biñan, Sta. Rosa, San Pedro, Calamba, San Pablo; España, Malate, Tutuban, Balintawak, Caloocan, Lucena, Paranaque, Taguig City, Muntinlupa City, Malabon, Valenzuela; In Bulacan – Balagtas, Baliuag, Pulilian, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, San Rafael, Malolos, Hagonoy, Paombong, San Jose Del Monte; In Pampanga: Apalit, Candaba and; In Cavite: Bacoor, Dasmariñas, among others.
As coverage continues to expand, more and more households benefit through improved living conditions; increased livelihood opportunities and family income; enhanced performance of students in these households; reduced economic exploitation by retailers of electricity, crime rate, safety and fire hazard risks, etc.
The electric utility likewise benefits from the provision of legal connections through reduced overloading of networks, increased revenue, improved system performance, and better utilization of infrastructure and facilities, to name a few.