As of 30 November 2006, the national electrification level stood at 94.58 percent (39,671 out of the 41,945 (2000 census) barangays). Luzon has the most number of electrified barangays (19,892 out of 20,476 barangays), while Visayas is 96.24 percent electrified (11,013 out of 11,443 barangays). Mindanao has the lowest number of barangays electrified with 8,766 out of 10,026 barangays, which un-electrified barangays comprises a little more than 50 percent of the country’s remaining un-electrified barangays.
Looking at the Regional and Provincial levels, the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has the lowest electrification rate of 70.35 percent (1,720 out of 2,445 barangays) having 725 barangays yet to be electrified. In the Visayas Region, Region VIII has the lowest electrification rate of 91.66 percent (4,024 out of 4,390 barangays). Among the Luzon Regions, the Bicol Region (Region V) and MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) remained to have the biggest number of un-electrified barangays as of 31 December 2006.
Considering the objective of the ER Program is to provide greater access to electricity services, sitio electrification was implemented for those provinces and regions, which achieved 100 percent barangay electrification level or in the case of ER 1-94, as amended, when the host municipality has reached 100 percent barangay electrification. The ER Program is still validating past years accomplishments in sitios. From January 1995 to 2006, a total of 4,293 sitios were electrified.
In 2005 also marked the implementation of a pilot project in Rio-Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan through the initiative of a private sector. The Project is a showcase of a public-private partnership consisting of DOE, KEPCO, PALECO and PowerSource. The project uses innovative design of stand alone electrification system by integrating basic elements of a sustainable electrification solution: (i) provision of a viable, cost effective generation platform; (ii) provision of a local distribution system; (iii) provision of a customer service facilities; and (iv) provision of a community development platform ensuring, at a minimum, integrated skills training, technology transfer and livelihood training leading to community-based enterprise creation. The design named “Community Energizer Platform” or “CEP,”
Likewise, the ER Program is aware of the negative impact on the technical viability of line extensions in many of our distribution utilities. Accordingly, there were support projects that were implemented mostly funded under the DOE administered ER 1-94 Electrification Fund, to help the distribution utilities maintain if not improve their respective system operations. Specifically, the ER Program supported the following:
- Restoration/Rehabilitation of Distribution Line in Quezon Province involving construction of 2.45 circuit-kilometers of 3-Phase lines, 6.85 circuit-kilometers of underbuilt secondary lines and 4.94 circuit-kilometers of open secondary lines. The estimated project cost is about P4.0 Million. Quezon II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO II) is the recipient.
- Rehabilitation of Distribution Lines in Bauan, Batangas costing P25.6 Million with Bauan Electric and Light System as recipient. The Project involved a total of 71.95 circuit-kilometers of various distribution lines from 3-Phase to open secondary.
- Line Modification in Iloilo City involving upgrading of .778 circuit-kilometers of single phase to 3-Phase amounting to PhP212,659. Panay Electric Cooperative shall implement the Project.
- Upgrading of 4.03 circuit-kilometers of distribution lines to 3 Phase in Calaca, Batangas amounting to PhP2.072 Million. Batangas Electric Cooperative I (BATELEC) is the recipient of this Project.
- Installation of 1-10 MVA Power Transformer for the Municipality of Sual costing P17 Million with Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative, Inc. as the recipient.
- Interconnection of Cagraray Island to San Miguel Island (Tobaco City, Albay) costing about P3.5 Million. This Project involved the construction of 7.5 circuit-kilometers of 3-Phase lines and 1.9 circuit-kilometers of underbuilt secondary line. The Albay Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ALECO) is the Project recipient.
- Rehabilitation and Upgrading of the Distribution Line System in Marawi City costing Php27,606,147.40. This project involved the construction of 17.41 circuit- kilometers of 3-Phase lines, 1.76 circuit-kilometers 2-Phase lines, 15.025 circuit-kilometers 1-Phase lines, 24.630 circuit-kilometers of underbuilt and 17.93 circuit-kilometers of Secondary Lines.
- On-going restoration of power lines in typhoon affected areas in Bicol Region.