The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of over PHP3.627 billion to support the government’s initiative for rural electrification, aligning with the Marcos administration’s goal of achieving total electrification by 2028.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the Strategized Rural Electrification and Operational Reliability program of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, as announced in a news release on Tuesday.
“Of this amount, based on their report, NEA will be able to cover the energization of 1,752 sitios and five barangays under the 2025 subsidy,” Pangandaman stated.
The allocation includes PHP3.439 billion for the Sitio Electrification Program and PHP68.839 million for the Barangay Line Enhancement Program, which targets five barangays previously served by unsustainable off-grid systems. Additionally, PHP120 million will be allocated to procure and distribute 4,000 solar photovoltaic units to remote areas lacking reliable power supply.
“Malaking bagay po ‘yan para sa ating mga kababayan na hirap maabot ng serbisyo na mapailawan ang kanilang mga kabahayan,” Pangandaman remarked, emphasizing the significant impact this funding will have on communities that have long been without electricity.
She also noted, “Sa pamamagitan din po nito, maisasakatuparan natin ‘yung ipinag-utos ng Pangulo na bigyang internet connection ang mga paaralan sa malalayong lugar,” highlighting that this initiative will help fulfill the President’s directive to provide internet connectivity to remote schools.
From 2017 to 2024, the NEA has successfully energized 9,645 sitios, leaving 9,622 sitios still unenergized, which are set to be funded until 2028.