Gov’t requires over P70-b budget to meet electrification goal by ‘28

By Alena Mae S. Flores – November 2, 2023, 9:10 pm
from manilastandard.net

The Department of Energy (DOE) said some P70.473 billion is needed to meet the government’s total electrification target by 2028.

The 2023-2032 National Total Electrification Roadmap identifies the budget needed to support the DOE and National Electrification Administration projects to energize 1.402 million households.

It said of the amount, the NEA would require P69.2 billion to cover 1.386 million households. The balance would come from the government through the General Appropriations Act that was allocated for the Total Electrification Program covering 2021-2023.

The DOE said access to electricity opens opportunities for income-generating activities, promoting commercial development and inclusive social progress.

“The objective is to promote social equity and reap long-term economic benefits for society,” the department said.

It said electrification involves providing electricity access to remote and rural areas.

The DOE aims to achieve 100-percent total electrification by 2028 through four strategies including household electrification, distribution line extension, stand-alone home system (SAHS) and microgrid system.

It said these strategies are consistent with the National Total Electrification Framework which would be implemented by the NEA, National Power Corp.-Small Power Utilities Group, private distribution utilities, local government units (LGUs) and other program partners.

Household electrification level was at 91.1 percent, with 25.3 million households served versus the estimated potential households of 27.727 million as of June 2023, based on the 2020 Census on Population and Housing (CPH). The number of unserved households was placed at 2.454 million.