By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Believe it or not but there are still more than two million households in the country that do not have electricity.
At the Media Power 102 Training Program on Wednesday (10 July 2024) in Taguig City, Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Rowena Guevara disclosed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s goal to electrify all households in the country by the end of his term in 2028 would require P72 billion worth of investments.
“About P72 billion will power those households… if the government invests P72 billion until 2028, we will achieve 100% electrification,” Guevara pointed out.
To recall, in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year, Marcos Jr. said that his administration “will spare no effort to achieve full household electrification by the end of my term.”
Guevara explained that 100% electrification will translate to P315 billion in economic benefit, which is equivalent to 1.8% of the country’s gross domestic product.
“If we are given the budget of 72 billion, 100% electrification is achievable,” Guevara quipped.
He also noted that the DOE’s study was recently presented to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board.
The DOE official said if low-income households’ access to electricity would be multiplied to eight to 16 hours a day, their income would improve by 33.3%.
Guevara added that if power access of low-income households would be improved to 16 hours to 24 hours a day, “their income will go up 49.4%.”
(el Amigo/mnm)
