More electric cooperatives (ECs) have sought state-funded loans, as the National Electrification Administration (NEA) released a larger lending budget to 45 ECs.
In a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, state-run NEA said it facilitated ₱2.8 billion in loans to ECs in 2025, the majority of which were allotted in Luzon and Mindanao. This represents a 55-percent increase compared to the previous year’s figure of ₱1.8 billion.
According to NEA, a large portion of the dispersed loans, valued at ₱1.7 billion, has been released to 15 ECs in Luzon, eight in Visayas, and 11 in Mindanao.
About ₱956 million has also been processed for 11 ECs that provide power to Albay, Cagayan de Sulu in Tawi-Tawi, Camarines Sur, Cotabato, Negros Oriental, northern Negros Island, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Sultan Kudarat, and Tarlac.
Calamity loans worth ₱142.4 million were also released last year.
“These funds were allocated to rehabilitate vital energy infrastructure damaged by Super Typhoon ‘Odette’ in 2021,” NEA said, highlighting the need to retrofit the distribution lines of Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO) and Janopol mini hydro power plant in Bohol province
In the previous year, Bohol I Electric Cooperative Inc. (BOHECO I) received a ₱13.3-million calamity loan to continue rehabilitating the plant after it was struck by “Odette.”
“NEA under the current administration provides financial assistance to its partner ECs through its enhanced lending program. The mechanism aims to ensure their operations will continue for the benefit of their member-consumer-owners,” it said
In 2024, 30 ECs benefited from NEA’s loan disbursements. The administration provided a ₱1.19-billion capital expenditure (capex) budget to service the provinces of Bataan, Bohol, Bukidnon, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cebu, Davao del Sur, Iloilo, Leyte, Masbate, Misamis Oriental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Romblon, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, and Zamboanga del Norte. - Gabriell Christel Galang