The Department of Energy (DOE) is working with its partners and stakeholders in order to power up Marawi City for the Christmas holidays.
“Not just because we are mandated, but because this is the right thing to do. E-Powering Marawi is an endeavor by the energy family, working together, to ensure that the much-needed energy infrastructures in Marawi City, including street lightings and other basic necessity use, can be restored,” DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.
Last weekend, DOE turned over 400 solar-powered lamps to the Task Force Bangon Marawi and 131 solar-powered street lights to the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO).
A number of these solar street lights will be installed before the holidays at the Transitional Shelter Site, while the rest will be placed in the Main Battle Area, based on the DOE E-Power Marawi unconventional program.
Pepsi Co. and Phinma Corp., which worked in close coordination with the DOE-Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office, donated the solar lamps and street lights. These were fabricated by the Correctional Institute for Women through the Liter of Light organization.
Cusi said that DOE will extend all the necessary help and support to the people of Marawi for them to recover, and will work even during the holidays until access to power in the area is reliable, stable and sustainable.
Meanwhile, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) has given a go-signal for the calamity load that would fund the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged power distribution lines in Marawi City.
The loan will finance the power restoration and rehabilitation of the distribution and other facilities of LASURECO which were affected by the conflict in Marawi City.
“This development brings us closer to the restoration of electricity services in Marawi City. With fully-energized power lines, we hope to ease the job of other agencies tasked with rehabilitating the war-torn city under Task Force Bangon Marawi,” NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong said.
The amount will be turned into a grant upon receipt of the NEA subsidy fund form the national government. The loan is payable in 10 years with a maximum grace period of one year at a 3.25 percent per annum interest rate.
“We are grateful for the continued support the NEA and the Department of Energy have provided us. This financial aid is going to help speed up the power restoration and rehabilitation works in Marawi City,” LASURECO acting general manager Nordjiana Ducol said.