(L-R: DOE Usec. Raul B. Aguilos, NEA Administrator Editha S. Bueno, Representatives from one of the NIHE beneficiaries, and DOE Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada)

Taguig City) Boosting its efforts to provide power to more households nationwide, the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded financial assistance to various electric cooperatives during the Opening Ceremonies of the National Energy Consciousness Month on December 7.

As part of the Nationwide Intensification of Household Electrification (NIHE), around PhP114-million were allocated to 22 electric cooperatives in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao covering 30,512 households. This program is in support of the efforts of the government's Total Electrification Program which aims to promote the benefits of electricity to uplift the economic well-being of our people especially in rural and remote areas. (Please see below List of Beneficiaries.)

Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada said “This program cements the partnership of the DOE and electric cooperatives to support the government’s goal of total electrification of the country,” while also encouraging all electric cooperatives to undertake a more detailed household electrification program to establish a long-term holistic electrification plan.

Under the NIHE, the DOE targets to provide power to at least 45,000 households for 2015-2017 to reach its 90% household electrification aims by 2017.