P67B may be needed for 100% electrification of PH households, says lawmaker

MANILA — All households in the country may have electricity by 2033, according to the Department of Energy’s budget sponsor, Camarines Sur 4th District Rep. Arnie Fuentebella.

But Fuentebella says this could cost up to P67 billion to get done. 

Fuentebella made the statement after Gabriela Party-List Rep. Sarah Elago asked about it during plenary deliberations on DOE’s 2027 budget.

Fuentebella said the cost estimate “may not be accurate” since the Philippine population is growing, adding the National Electrification Administration is seeking more funds for sitio electrification.

A sitio is a subdivisión of a barangay, the government’s smallest administrative and government unit.

“But nag-aaral na rin po ang NEA dahil po personally, ang sitios po ay lumalaki,” Fuentebella said.

(NEA is still studying this because the sitios are also growing.)

He said that completing sitio electrification for a community with a minimum of 10 houses would mean people would also start building more houses nearby.

“Papakuryentehan mo na naman po sila (And then you will put up electricity for them). So I think we have to review also regarding sitio electrification– even limitations,” Fuentebella added.

According to Elago, nearly 3 million Filipino households do not have access to electricity even as many Filipinos struggle with high power rates.

DOE’s proposed budget for 2027 under the National Expenditure Program, the executive branch’s proposed budget, is at over P5 billion. 

Should Pax Silica push through, Fuentebella said it will be required to generate its own power.

The DOE is creating a guidebook for the joint project, Fuentebella added.

“May recommendation po ba ang DOE sa kung paano balak tugunan ang energy requirement ng Pax Silica hub?” Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co asked.

(Does the DOE have any recommendation on how it plans to meet the energy requirement of the Pax Silica hub?)

“Ang requirement po nila is kung magtatayo sila dito, they have to generate their own power… Off-grid po siya. Direkta na po doon sa kung saang site magtatayo ang Pax Silica. Off-grid. Wala po sila sa grid natin,” Fuentebella said. 

(The requirement is if they will put up facilities there, they have to generate their own power. They will be off grid. Their power will come from within the site where they will put up Pax Silica. They will not be part of our grid.)