State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) signed a contract with Nishizawa Limited, a Japanese general trading company, to supply the materials and equipment needed to rehabilitate six electric cooperatives (ECs) in Mindanao.
Nishizawa Limited was chosen among four other Japanese candidates bidding for the “Project for Improvement of Equipment for Power Distribution in Bangsamoro Area.” The project aims to rehabilitate the power distribution system of six beneficiary ECs in the region.
The Japanese firm will supply and deliver equipment and materials such as 16 boom truck units, 425 transformer units, poles, and wires. They will also be conducting training sessions on how to handle the insulated wires and boom truck operations.
“The assistance will further the development of the ARMM, especially the BASULTA (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) area which had been identified by the President as a priority for socio-economic development,” NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong said.
The six recipients are Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc. (Lasureco), Maguindanao Electric Cooperative Inc. (Magelco), Basilan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Baselco), Sulu Electric Cooperative Inc. (Suleco), Tawi-Tawi Electric Cooperative Inc. (Tawelco), and Siasi Electric Cooperative Inc. (Siaselco).
The project will be financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through a grant aid worth 771-million yen (roughly P375 million) extended by the Government of Japan to Philippine government formalized on March 30, 2017.
