Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Keeping its promise of “electricity for all,” the Department of Energy (DOE), along with power distributor Meralco, said it would “energize” or provide power for more poverty-stricken areas.
DOE’s initial meeting with Meralco yielded results: 2,082 households were energized from July 8-24 in the DOE-identified communities — just two weeks since the Duterte administration began.
In the same meeting, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Meralco President Oscar Reyes said they would discuss energization plans for target communities. The power distributor combined regular service and pre-paid electricity service schemes for the new connections.
Meralco’s partnership with the National Housing Authority energized 1,126 households in the towns of Gaya-Gaya (Towerville), San Jose del Monte, Balagtas, and Sta. Maria in Bulacan; Angono and Cainta in Rizal; Rosario, San Pedro, Calamba, and San Pablo in Laguna; and in Marikina City.
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The company also powered 857 homes in Metro Manila, Quezon, Laguna, Bulacan, and Rizal through its program for relocatees and informal settlers.
But according to the power distributor, around 151,000 households need an electric meter.
Energy Department spokesperson Pete Ilagan said they still needed to determine how many residents could not afford to pay for electricity. He said requirements would be waived for those seeking service connections.
In his first State of the Nation Address, President Duterte urged Meralco and other electric cooperatives to make direct connections to relocation sites and depressed areas.
CNN Philippines’ Anna Estanislao contributed to this report.
