Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno is urging the National Power Corp. (NPC) to improve access to electricity in remote communities.

During the NPC's 87th Anniversary, Diokno reminded the company of its mission to provide electricity to remote areas and islands in the Philippines and assured them of the government's support in fulfilling this objective.

“I urge the NPC to ramp up its efforts to provide reliable electricity in remote communities across the country,” said Diokno, NPC’s ex-officio chairman, in his speech.

“I assure you that you can continue to rely on the steadfast support of the National Power Board as you pursue your mission,” he added.

Diokno admitted that the NPC is facing new challenges in its efforts to create a sustainable and resilient energy system.

“Despite the immense pressure on the energy sector in recent years, the NPC recorded major accomplishments in 2022,” the finance chief said.

The NPC successfully energized six new areas in Northern Samar, Basilan, and Zamboanga del Sur last year.

“These are important milestones in the NPC’s mission of energizing far-flung, off-grid areas and islands in the Philippines,” Diokno said.

The company also managed to increase the service hours of five power facilities in Masbate and Western Samar and has made progress in various projects to improve and maintain the transmission system in the off-grid provinces.

On watershed preservation and conservation, the NPC partnered with the private sector and other government agencies to conduct comprehensive protection and rehabilitation measures for watersheds.

The NPC restored 88 hectares of open areas and produced and dispersed around 100,000 seedlings to communities for their tree-planting initiatives.

“Through regular inspections, the NPC has ensured that the five large dams it oversees in Luzon maintain satisfactory working conditions,” Diokno said.

On the upkeep of the Agus-Pulangi Power Complex in Mindanao, the NPC exceeded the electricity generation target with a total generation of 3,929 gigawatt hours. 

Infrastructure projects were also completed to improve the operations of the units, he cited.

More recently, the NPC energized and inaugurated two new off-grid areas in Taytay and Culion in Palawan. 

With these new power facilities, the NPC now operates and maintains a total of 27 Small Power Utilities Group plants in Palawan.

Recently, Diokno signed a 60 million-Euro Financing Agreement with the European Union for the Green Economy Programme in the Philippines. 

Diokno said this move attests to his firm resolve to translate the Philippines’ climate change agenda into concrete climate action.

“With this Programme, we fast-track the Philippines’ transition into a green and circular economy by deploying renewable energy and improving energy efficiency in the country, among others,” Diokno said.

“This new, green initiative is just one among many partnerships that the government is forging to mobilize resources towards our vision of an energy-secure Philippines,” he added.

With the recent liberalization of the renewable energy sector, the finance chief also expects an influx of high quality green investments that will bring in green jobs for Filipino people.
“Together, these measures ensure that we are moving towards a brighter, cleaner, and climate-resilient future for the Filipino people,” Diokno concluded.