By Mike Crismundo
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur - Since its start in the year 2011, the Sitio Electrification Project (SEP) and the Barangay Line Enhancement Program (BLEP) of the government, in partnership with the hundreds of electric cooperatives nationwide, have been successfully undertaking an electrification program that has benefited millions of Filipinos.
AGAINST ALL ODDS – A truck, loaded with supply and equipment like electric poles, lies stranded in mud in the far-flung area of Binicalan area in San Luis, Agusan del Sur, which typified the kind of challenges that had to be overcome by the Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc. just to electrify a community of Manobo natives. (Mike Crismundo/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The program started with the objective of energizing all the households in the far-flung areas in all corners of the Philippines.
In the southern part of this landlocked and agricultural-rich province of Agusan del Sur, the Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ASELCO) has had its fair share of accomplishments in the SEP and the BLEP.
Considering the topographic location of the province, missionary electrification has become a gargantuan task to fulfill.
But even so, the cooperative has achieved major breakthrough in project implementation because of its remarkable achievements which exhibited pure and selfless dedication in extending the power lines and eventually bringing the light to every household in the province where darkness still looms.
In the last five years, the cooperative has energized 28,881 communities.
ASELCO had to face the challenge of energizing a unique community in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur – Sitio Sabang Gibong.
The community, which is composed of the Manobo tribe, resides in between two rivers with water flowing from the Agusan River and Gibong River.
It is considered as the farthest community in the municipality of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, as it can only be reached by a three-to-hour hour boat ride.
“But in the year 2012, the impossible was made to reality when finally the lines have reached these areas and benefited hundreds of families residing in the area,” said ASELCO General Manager Emmanuel B. Galarse.
The unwavering commitment of the cooperative was once again tested in the year 2017 when the long-awaited approval of energization program of the farthest barangay in the municipality of San Luis started – Barangay Binicalan, he said.
The place is a 55-kilometer remote area from the heart of San Luis municipality. The locale’s populace is primarily composed of more or less 300 families largely identified as Banwaon tribe members who make a living by way of farming and logging.