Napocor powers up fast-growing Luuk town in Sulu

The Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) of State-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) will provide power to Luuk, one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the province of Sulu.

Located in the eastern tip of Jolo Island, Luuk is a fourth-class municipality evolving into another business and tourist destination in Mindanao. It has a population of almost 55,000 in more than 7,000 households, made up mostly of fisherfolk and seaweed farmers.

Napocor-SPUG vice president Lorenzo S. Marcelo said the augmentation of Luuk’s power supply is part of their mandate under the missionary electrification program.

"We understand the need for the municipality to have a continuous, reliable and efficient power supply. This is vital to the achievement of its development objectives," Marcelo said.

He said the project was also undertaken in support of President Arroyo’s overall program for the energization of areas without electricity to boost economic activity and help the country’s remotest and poorest provinces and areas achieve progress and sustainable development.

"As one of the primary mandates of Napocor, missionary electrification through the SPUG has helped small islands not connected to the main grid to have electricity service," said Marcelo.

The electrification of Luuk began in September 2003 after President Arroyo led the energization of some 200 houses in the remote barangay of Kapual. Today, the entry of Napocor-SPUG has given residents a big boost, with the possibility of full energization happening very soon.

In fact, with the prospect of having a continuous supply of electricity, residents have began adjusting their lifestyle, and started purchasing home appliances such as refrigerators and electric fans.

Meanwhile, Napocor is fast-tracking the privatization of the priority areas under SPUG.