State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) and its partner electric cooperatives
(ECs) remain fully committed in their efforts to install electricity distribution systems to serve
various resettlement sites for Super Typhoon Yolanda survivors.

Data from the NEA Accelerated Total Electrification Office (ATEO) showed that out of the
350 resettlement areas identified by the National Housing Authority (NHA) for Super
Typhoon Yolanda-affected families, 154 already have distribution lines, which will serve as
tapping point to energize the houses, and 53 sites with on-going construction.

In Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) alone, the construction of distribution lines to 68 of the 113
resettlement sites was already completed while 13 areas are ongoing. The remaining 32
resettlement sites in Eastern Visayas are still for identification of the NHA developer.

Aside from Region 8, the NHA also identified nine resettlement sites in Region 4-B
(Palawan), one in Region 5 (Masbate), 189 in Region 6 (148 in Panay Island and 41 in
Negros Occidental), 37 in Region 7 (Cebu), and one in Region 13 (Dinagat Island).

The national government has allocated P1.054 billion for the construction of distribution
lines to energize the NHA resettlement sites. The Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) so far released P207,400,000 to the NEA.

According to ATEO, the funding requirement for the construction of the tapping point was
based on the estimated cost of P3.4 million per project site with the distance of four
kilometers from the end of the existing EC distribution line.

Also, the government has allocated funds to cover the cost of setting up electricity
connections to houses for typhoon survivors. So far, out of the 203,735 household
beneficiaries, 5,737 were already connected to electricity.

Earlier, NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong encouraged the beneficiaries of
resettlement housing program to apply for electricity service connection in their respective
electric cooperatives.

“As reported by the ECs meron ng linya, andyan na ‘yung linya, nasa bunganga na ng
resettlement area kaya lang walang processing ng application dahil walang nag-a-apply.
Baka kailangan lang ng proper information sa mga nakatira sa resettlement areas so they
will be provided with the necessary service for electricity” Masongsong said.

The NEA chief was in Calabayog City, Samar last July 13 to grace the Regional Lumens
Awards organized by the Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region 8 (Frecor 8) to
honor the men and women behind the top-performing ECs in Eastern Visayas.