The National Electrification Administration (NEA) announced its off-grid solar project for 5,000 households is facing a slower pace of completion due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The NEA Total Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Department (TEREDD) said beneficiaries of the solar photovoltaic (PV) mainstreaming project will have to wait a little longer due to the delay in the delivery of the solar panels.
NEA has allotted P153 million to cover the implementation of the PV mainstreaming project under its Expanded Household Electrification Program.
“The competitive bidding process and the awarding of contracts to the successful bidders have already been completed. We are just awaiting delivery of solar panels, which will be coming from China,” Engr. Ernesto Silvano, Jr., acting manager of the NEA-TEREDD, said.
The NEA has allotted P153 million to cover the implementation of the PV mainstreaming project under its Expanded Household Electrification Program.
“The PV mainstreaming program is an off-grid electrification scheme that aims to bring electricity to the most dispersed and isolated households that are deemed unviable for grid connection in the next five years,” Silvano said.
The beneficiaries are the households under the coverage areas of five electric cooperatives, namely Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BISELCO), Camarines Sur IV Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CASURECO IV), Iloilo III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO III), Cotabato Electric Cooperative, Inc. (COTELCO), and Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZANECO).
Of the 5,039 solar home system (SHD) units for distribution and installation in off-grid communities, BISELCO will receive 1,200 SHS units; COTELCO, 1,063 units; ZANECO, 967 units; ILECO III, 931 units; and CASURECO IV, 878 SHS units.