VECO launches electrification project in Naga+

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayan Electric Company (VECO), the country’s second largest distributor of electricity, will launch its electrification project in the City of Naga, Cebu with a ceremonial switch-on on June 20  at the Naga City gymnasium complex.

Pursuant to Energy Regulation 1-94 (as amended) and corroborated by Section 66 of Republic Act 9136, power generating companies are to provide financial benefits to its host communities by setting aside one centavo per kilowatt hour( P0.01/kwh) of its total electricity sales to fund  electrification, development and livelihood, reforestration, watershed management, and health and environmental projects.

The administration of the funds will be undertaken by the Department of Energy (DOE) through established trust accounts.

The electrification projects are to be regularly initiated by the distribution utility or cooperative. The host communities entitled to avail of the program are the barangays, municipalities, cities, province and region through the Regional Development Council .

VECO, as the franchised distribution utility owned and managed by the publicly-listed Aboitiz Power Corporation and Vivant Corporation, will initiate the implementation of the project. The DOE directed VECO to proceed with the electrification expansion for 22  sitios in the City of Naga. 

Invited to grace the ceremonial switch-on are DOE Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong, Aboitiz Power Corporation AVP-Special Projects & Business Systems Management Danel Aboitiz, VECO Chief Operating Officer Sebastian R. Lacson together with VECO’s top executives.  (FREEMAN)