The Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) welcomes any help that could be given to achieve its mandate of providing full electrification in its franchise area.
PALECO’s remark came after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, included Palawan in provinces that needed to be completely energized by 2028.
Information Officer Maria Janelle Rebusada stated that PALECO faces challenges due to various factors, including electrical permits issued by local government units (LGUs), to provide electrification to households located in areas with existing power lines.
Transmission lines from Taytay to Brooke’s Point are still unable to cover certain towns. As a nonprofit cooperative, PALECO depends on grants from both national and local governments.
“We welcome and PALECO would be very grateful sa maitutulong ng NEA [National Electrification Administration], DOE [Department of Energy] at national government to address these challenges when it comes to total electrification,” said Rebusada.
President Marcos said in his SONA that the government has provided electrification to about 2.5 million households in the last three years, which is half of the five million households without an electricity connection at the start of his administration.
Aside from Palawan, the DOE and NEA will work to energize households in the provinces of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Samar, Negros Occidental, and Zamboanga del Sur.
“Hahabulin at tutuparin ng DOE at NEA ang nakatakdang dami ng mga kabahayang makakabitan ng kuryente ngayong taon hanggang 2028,” President Marcos said.
PALECO has energized 282 barangays out of 371 covered, with a total of 224,855 actual connections as of June 2025, according to Rebusada.
It also implements a microgrid system that allows qualified third parties to energize areas deemed unviable or waived within its franchise area.
The electric cooperative continues its programs in sitio electrification, barangay line enhancement with NEA, and the provision of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Palawan.
President Marcos revealed in his SONA that about one million households will be able to have electricity through solar power home systems by the end of 2028.
He also advised the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to fast-track the process of approval for the implementation of DOE’s net-metering program.
Net-metering is a strategy to promote the utilization of renewable energy. This scheme allows electricity end-users to construct a renewable energy facility that generates electricity mainly for their own consumption. The unused electricity generated will be sold to the grid.
There is no guideline yet from NEA and DOE for the net-metering in off-grid distribution utilities like in Palawan, said Rebusada.
“Welcome din na maging system natin siya kasi ang tendency non, na kay PALECO ka at kung meron kang solar panel sa bahay, yung kinakain mo babayaran mo. Ang sobra mo, because of your solar panel, pwede mo ibato sa grid para ka na rin supplier at babayaran ka,” she said.
In the next three years, the government will have 200 plants that will energize four million households, 2,000 factories, and over 7,000 offices and businesses.
Meanwhile, the families included in the Listahanan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will also avail the lifeline rate that will help on their electricity expenses.
Rebusada added that the lifeline rate program in Palawan benefits beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and those marginalized end-users who are living with lower income than the poverty threshold declared by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). It has been implemented by PALECO since 2023.
Siquijor’s energy situation
President Marcos assured the public that the investigation will be pursued to hold accountable the negligence in the power challenge faced by Siquijor after it was placed under the state of calamity. He advised DOE, NEA, and ERC to bring the energy services back before 2025 ends.
The Siquijor Provincial Government recommended the declaration in June after seeing the impacts on the water system, communication networks, access to health services, and other government and private services.
“Sa ginawa nating imbestigasyon, ano ‘yung ating natuklasan? Mga expired na permit. Mga sirang generator, na halatang napabayaan, kaya sunod-sunod na bumibigay. Mabagal na aksyon, at kawalan ng maayos na sistema ng pagbili ng krudo at ng mga piyesa,” President Marcos said.
PALECO was also tapped for assistance, wherein one of its two 2 MW modular generator sets was sent to Siquijor in response to a directive from the President.
“Noong una ay iri-rent lang ng Siquijor pero later on mas possible sa kanila na i-assume na lang nila ang ownership. Dinala don ng general manager at experts namin, within 24 hours noong pagdating ng genset, gumana, nakapailaw,” Rebusada said.
President Marcos, on the other hand, said that investigations into similar energy situations in other parts of the country would also be conducted, and refunds from energy companies would be administered if needed. (PIA)
