26 Naga families get free electricity installation

Local

AT LEAST 26 families in Barangay Lanas, City of Naga, Cebu were the beneficiaries of a free house-wiring program.

Through the Energy Regulations 1-94 (ER 1-94) program, Visayan Electric, in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) Philippines, spearheaded the project, which was formally launched during a ceremonial switch-on event on March 6

This initiative marks the first implementation of the ER 1-94 program in the Visayas, bringing long-awaited electrification benefits to communities that host power generation facilities.

The ER 1-94 program, created under Republic Act No. 7638 or the Department of Energy Act of 1992, ensures that host communities of power plants receive financial benefits from electricity sales.

Under the program, power generation companies allocate one centavo per kilowatt-hour (P0.01/kWh) of their revenue to fund electrification, development, and environmental programs.

The funds are distributed as follows: 50 percent for household electrification, 25 percent for local development and livelihood projects, and 25 percent for reforestation and environmental initiatives.

Visayan Electric President and Chief Operations Officer Raul Lucero explained that the program provides free house wiring and installation services, allowing indigent households to legally connect to the power grid without paying upfront costs.

While residents will still shoulder their monthly electricity bills, those consuming less than 100 kilowatt-hours per month may qualify for discounts under the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program.

Beneficiaries expressed relief and gratitude, saying they no longer have to endure sleepless nights in darkness or spend extra money on candles and alternative power sources.

Many beneficiaries had waited years for this opportunity, including Angel Mae Alfante, a 25-year-old mother of a four-year-old child.

She told MyTV Cebu how her family had to rely on candles because they could not afford the P18,000 installation fee for an electrical connection.

She said she had prioritized buying food and other essentials over securing electricity, making the program a life-changing initiative for her household.

Barangay Captain Emily Baricuatro revealed that the program initially planned to benefit more than 100 households.

However, due to long delays in implementation, many residents lost interest and did not pursue registration, leaving only 26 households on the final list.

Despite this, she noted that an updated total 184 families have now signed up in hopes of being included in future phases of the project.

Based on Visayan Electric’s surveys, nearly 4,000 households across Cebu Province qualify for the ER 1-94 program.

The current phase prioritizes 2,013 households, including 1,295 in Naga City and 718 in the neighboring town of San Fernando.

The remaining 1,920 households will be covered in later phases, funded by the P28.2 million allocation for electrification projects under the program.

During the switch-on ceremony, officials demonstrated the impact of the project through a symbolic lighting of a diorama representing the newly connected homes.(MyTVCebu)