The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of over PHP3.627 billion to support the government’s push for rural electrification, in line with the Marcos administration’s goal of achieving total electrification by 2028.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the Strategized Rural Electrification and Operational Reliability program of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, the DBM said in a news release Tuesday.

“Of this amount, based on their report, NEA will be able to cover the energization of 1,752 sitios and five barangays under the 2025 subsidy,” Pangandaman said.

Of the total amount, PHP3.439 billion will support the Sitio Electrification Program while PHP68.839 million is allocated for the Barangay Line Enhancement Program, targeting five barangays previously served by unsustainable off-grid systems.

An additional PHP120 million will be used to procure and distribute 4,000 solar photovoltaic units for far-flung areas without access to a reliable power supply.

“Malaking bagay po ‘yan para sa ating mga kababayan na hirap maabot ng serbisyo na mapailawan ang kanilang mga kabahayan (This is a huge help for our countrymen who have long lacked access to electricity),” Pangandaman said.

“Sa pamamagitan din po nito, maisasakatuparan natin ‘yung ipinag-utos ng Pangulo na bigyang internet connection ang mga paaralan sa malalayong lugar (This will also help fulfill the President’s directive to provide internet connectivity to remote schools).”

From 2017 to 2024, the NEA has energized 9,645 sitios, leaving 9,622 sitios still unenergized to be funded until 2028. (PNA)