With 3 million households still left underserved, the Department of Energy (DOE) vows to bring power to the remaining population with its Total Electrification Program (TEP).

Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi talked with the House of Committee on Energy on Tuesday to seek support for his department’s P 2 billion budget for next year.

The budget will reportedly fund initiatives that will push for inclusive growth to achieve total electrification by 2022. 

“We are aggressively pursuing initiatives catering to the unserved and underserved areas of the country to promote inclusive growth. This initiative supports Ambisyon Natin 2040 – providing a strongly-rooted, comfortable and secure life for all Filipinos,” Sec. Cusi said.

21 million out of 24 million households have access to electricity based on the 2015 census.

Cusi emphasized the need for effective collaboration between distribution utilities with franchise areas falling under unserved or underserved counties.

The DOE identified six regions with electrification levels falling below 80 percent. There are four in Mindanao (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao 27.4 percent, SOCCSKARGEN 65.6 percent, Zamboanga peninsula 67 percent, and Davao region (68.2 percent); the Negros Island Region in the Visayas (79.3 percent); and MIMAROPA in Luzon (79.9 percent).

TEP accounts for 25 percent in the proposed budget of about P 505 million. The program will align its efforts on powering 14,320 households with the National Electrification Administration, the National Power Corporation, the distribution utilities, and other members of the energy industry.