The Benguet Electric Cooperative said on 642 sitios in Benguet still need to be energized.
Engr. Ramel Rifani, Beneco Network Service Department manager said 2,516 of the 3,158 sitios in its franchise area in Baguio and Benguet have been provided electricity under the Sitio Energization Program (SEP) of the government.
The SEP is under the National Electrification Administration and implemented by rural electric distribution utilities like Beneco.
The remaining sitios for energization are located in Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, Mankayan, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay.
Rifani said all 744 sitos in Baguio 124 sitios in La Trinidad have been provided with electricity.
The government has spent P233 million for the SEP in Baguio and Benguet.
Rifani said 310 sitios are due for funding under the SEP with an estimated cost of P168.6M.
Engr. Melchor Licoben, Beneco OIC general manager, said NEA has allotted P80M for Beneco’s sitio energization this year.
However, with the Covid-19 pandemic, the fund was reverted to the agency’s general fund for Covid response before the fund was downloaded to Beneco.
Licoben said the SEP is a missionary activity of the distribution utilities which aims to bring electricity to the most depressed and far-flung areas, despite the little or no chance of a return on investment. – PNA
April 25, 2024
