Capiz achieves 100% energization

by Jemin B. Guillermo

Roxas City (25 August) — The 473 barangays in Capiz are already energized, according to the Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO).

According to CAPELCO General Manager Edgar Diaz, 100 percent of all the barangays in the province have already been provided with complete electrification in March 2005 yet.

Diaz said that the rural electrification program in the province was realized with the support of the congressmen from the first and second districts of Capiz by providing subsidy fund to finance the labor and materials.

He added that as of this month, about 44 million Filipinos are benefiting from the said program.

Diaz said that they are now expanding their services to far-flung areas, particularly in the sitios.

Last week, Capiz 1st District Congressman Antonio del Rosario led in the switch-on of 14 sitios in the 13 barangays of Panitan and Pilar towns.

The project, which costs P4.456 million, was funded through the Priority Development Assistance Fund of del Rosario.

Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the complete electrification of the remaining 743 rural barangays nationwide before the year ends.

The President has ordered the Department of Energy and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to fast track the program.

She said that her administration has extended P5.2 billion in financial assistance, the biggest in the country’s history, to electric cooperatives to enable them to accomplish their goal of bringing the benefit of electricity to all barangays.

In a continuing effort to bring down power rates in the country, the President said, the national government is accelerating power and energy development programs to establish more sources of indigenous power.

She noted that the full implementation of the EPIRA law will also start next year after the expiration of the power purchase agreement. (PIA)