ILIGAN CITY – Life without electricity in a modern era is certainly difficult, and even unimaginable for those who have already been enjoying the benefit of the service.
Lack of electricity could dramatically change people's lifestyle.
There is one town in Lanao del Norte that has been without electricity for over five decades now.
We are referring to Nunungan, a third class municipality and the largest in Lanao del Norte in terms of land area with a population of more than 18,500.
Its local government operates by using small diesel-powered generators.
This was the very reason why Mayor Marcos Mamay decided to enter politics. His personal advocacy is for the people of Nunungan to realize a dream come true.
"The people of Nunungan have been clamoring for change for very long years. They have suffered enough and finally, the long wait is over," Mamay said.
Sept.. 22, 2022 marked a historical event for the municipality of Nunungan.
For it was on this day that the local government signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Laneco) and Lanao Builders and Enterprise for the supply, installation, and labor of the construction of the Distribution Line in the municipality under the 2015 PAMANA Subsidy, a subsidy project approved by the National Electrification Administration.
The MOA signing took place at Laneco Central Office in Tubod, Lanao del Norte and it was attended by Laneco Board President Khalid M. Dimaporo, Laneco OIC-General Manager Zenaida M. Fabunan, Lanao Builders General Manager Omar Noor and its colleague Mr. Geovanni Hera.
After years of waiting since the Mayor assumed office in 2016 he already applied for the electrification of this town.
"Since my assumption, inaplayan natin iyan, Alhamdullilah andiyan na iyan," gratefully he said.
The implementation of the project will take two to three months from now to complete.
“Ang sabi nila (contractor) ang target hindi matapos ang year na to, on or before mag end ang December, fully established na ang electrification natin sa Nunungan, so we have to fast track the implementation," said Mamay.
The project cost is more than P30 million which includes P8 million from the LGU Nunungan.
Electrification of this town is one of the present administration's promises for the people of Nunungan. The local chief executive is making sure that all projects that have been promised will be implemented before his term ends in 2025.
Association of Barangay Council President Naim M. Dimak commended Mayor Mamay for the peace and development their town is experiencing right now.
Dimak said even before Mamay was elected Mayor in Nunungan, he had already served as a Barangay captain and told reporters that there was no development and there was a peace and order problem.
This town is named/tagged to be the rido (family feud) capital in Lanao del Norte.
Long before Mamay became mayor here, there were no developments and peace and order was a problem. Now, developments and accomplishments are visible, Dimak added.
Nunungan town is a 3rd class municipality located in the 2nd District in the Province of Lanao del Norte (LDN) which was founded on July 1, 1968 with 25 barangays.
It is the largest municipality in LDN in terms of land area of 473.28 km2 (182.73 sq mi). It has a population of 18,367 people based on the 2015 census.