The country’s electric cooperatives (ECs) are mandated by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to adhere to their committed service connections, so the country could achieve its full electrification goal up to the household level on or before the end of the Marcos administration in 2028.

The agency indicated that it had instructed all 121 ECs “to comply with the 2024-2028 projected number of potential consumer connections in pursuit of (the) accelerated total electrification plan.”

Fulfilling 100-percent electrification to all Filipino households had been one of the key promises laid down by President Marcos in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July.

To keep pace with that desired outcome, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda issued a memorandum on December 12 this year, directing the ECs “to harmonize their targets and monitor accomplishments,” in line with the Local Total Electrification Roadmap and the Distribution Development Plan.”

As set forth in the government-underpinned Total Electrification Plan, NEA is taking a shot at escalating service connections at areas served by ECs nationwide – and the aim is to serve 1,359,610 customers.

The electrification agency explained that the figures had been reckoned on data gathered from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); as well as on the application of linear programming in firming up the calculations.

As of end-October this year, it was estimated that 16,281,177  potential consumer connections would have to be catered to by the ECs, if based on year 2020 PSA census.

NEA added it will draw up detailed projections for each electric cooperative employing connections data entry template (DET) – and these shall be uploaded at the NEA-Business Intelligence Technology portal and the Barangay Energization Matrix (BEM) by January next year.

Additionally, a separate memorandum was issued by NEA on December 15,  stipulating that the BEM template “was improved to streamline the connections DET” – and that delved on the  identification of solutions for the energization of each barangay.

The agency primarily designated Jovani Lagon, acting head of the Program Control Section of NEA’s Database Management and Program Control Division (DMPCD) to be the point person who will assist the ECs relative to the newly rendered orders.

Further, solutions shall also be explored for the areas with low level of electrification – and the intent is to give them prioritization, including on the facet of funding allocation.

According to NEA, “each EC will be rated accordingly, subject to the implementing guidelines of the Annual EC Overall Performance Assessment,” which is a prescription under the ‘Level of Electrification’ parameter.