DOE partners with 5 power coops for first electrification projects this year
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin
The Department of Energy (DOE) is rolling out the first electrification projects for the year, partnering with five electric cooperatives (ECs) in Luzon and Visayas to address power strains in remote areas.
In a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 19, the DOE announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the first group of ECs for the Locally Funded Project - Total Electrification Program (LFP-TEP) for fiscal year 2025. This initial phase has an overall allocation of ₱192.8 million.
The first five ECs to be included in the rollout are the Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AKELCO), Aurora Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AURELCO), La Union Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LUECO), Quezon II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO II), and Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOLECO).
The project, which was identified with the help of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), aims to serve 1,492 households in underserved barangays and sitios, particularly those that are off-grid.
The initiative seeks to connect these locations to the main grid while also using microgrid solutions—a hybrid system that incorporates renewable energy—to provide reliable and cost-effective power.
According to Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, this project aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive, as highlighted in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). In that speech, Marcos set a goal to provide power to four million households.
“This signing ceremony not only reflects the government’s resolve to close the electricity access gap but also the vital role of our partners in the distribution sector who are at the frontlines of serving our communities,” Garin said.
“By bringing electricity to our last-mile communities, we are not merely powering homes; we are also empowering dreams, supporting livelihoods, and strengthening the foundations of inclusive growth,” she added.
The LFP-TEP 2025 is an initiative that uses government funds to boost electrification efforts and align the work of distribution utilities (DUs), ECs, local government units, and other stakeholders.
The DOE plans to roll out the next phases of ECs throughout the year as part of its "Bawat Bahay Maliwanag" (Every Home is Bright) vision.