PNOC-EDC electrifies 33 barangays, 27 sitios in H1

PNOC-Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC) reported that it accomplished the electrification of 33 barangays and 27 sitios within the first six months of the year.

The state-owned firm said it was able to finish the electrification of three barangays and six sitios in Leyte, four barangays in Northern Samar, 20 barangays and four sitios in Negros Oriental, two barangays and 15 sitios in Negros Occidental, three barangays in Cotabato and two sitios in Bantayan, Cebu.

For the rest of the year PNOC-EDC said it will energize four barangays and 35 sitios in Leyte, 23 barangays in Northern Samar, 34 barangays and four sitios in Negros Oriental, two barangays and 18 sitios in Negros Occidental, 12 barangays and six sitios in Cotabato, six sitios in Albay, seven sitios in Sorsogon, two sitios in Bantayan, Cebu and five sitios in Bohol.

PNOC-EDC is committed to help the government achieve its rural electrification targets to ensure that more communities will reap the benefits of electricity.

It is scheduled to bring electricity to 76 barangays and 92 sitios in 2007, and 73 barangays and 84 sitios in 2008.

The country’s premier geothermal firm piloted the participation of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in rural electrification in 1999 in 10 barangays in Ormoc, Leyte.

The geothermal arm of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) is credited for lighting up lives and homes in 611 barangays and 215 sitios in Leyte, Samar, Negros Oriental and Occidental, Albay, Sorsogon, Cotabato, Cebu and Iloilo.

PNOC-EDC is the country’s largest producer of geothermal energy with an installed capacity of 1,150 MW.

Its geothermal fields are located in Tongonan, Leyte; Palinpinon, Negros Oriental; Kidapawan, North Cotabato; and Sorsogon, Bicol.