NEA steps up efforts to energize all barangays by next year

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is stepping up efforts to attain the government’s goal of 100-percent barangay energization by 2008.

In a recent conference with electric cooperatives, NEA Administrator Edith Bueno said they are working closely with these small power distributors to equip them with industry-best practices and update them of the technical know-how in the implementation of the government’s rural electrification program.

For his part, Presidential Management Staff director general Cerge M. Remonde said total electrification, or the full coverage of 41,945 barangays, has been a key objective of the Arroyo administration.

"From January 2001 to December 2006, the Arroyo administration, thanks in large part to the strong partnership of NEA and your electric cooperatives, provided electricity to 6,437 barangays under the expanded rural electrificationprogram, bringing the total number of energized barangays to 39,910 or 95.15 percent of the country’s 41,945 barangays," Remonde said.

"There is less darkness and more light, a glowing tribute to the contribution of your 119 electric cooperatives to countryside growth.  By 2008, we hope to serve and cover the last 2,035 barangays, for a 100 percent coverage and absolute, total electrification," he added.

Remonde likewise cited reforms set by the present administration which have been notable in the various issuances by the Executive Branch to strengthen the industry.

"If you are looking for deep support to rural electrification, you will surely find it in the President who has made the restructuring of the power industry possible; who has instituted reforms like deregulation, rate unbundling, open access, and retail wheeling; and has promoted the establishment of institutions like WESM, to all your procurement of electricity at best and under competitive terms," he said.

"WESM, or the wholesale electricity spot market, is one of the key mechanisms for setting a market-driven price of electricity that can be availed of by a wider customer base. Open access and retail wheeling are tools for giving the market the power of choice; WESM is the mechanism by which the market exercises that choice," he added.

Among the policy directives to guide the power and electricity industry in the coming years are: construction of new additional capacities by private investors; expansion of capacities of existing plants by government and private investors; and accelerate privatization of transmission and generation assets, he said.