The National Electrification Administration (NEA) announced plans to begin a PHP 600-million rehabilitation of the Basilan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BASELCO), aiming to improve power reliability and spur economic growth in the province.

NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda announced the initiative during a power sector forum on October 6 with local officials, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Power Corporation (NPC). “We are drafting the plan to align the sub-transmission backbone along the roads surrounding the entire island,” Almeda said.

The project will relocate BASELCO’s primary distribution lines to major roads to allow faster repairs during outages, addressing long-standing issues in power delivery. The work forms part of a broader government strategy to resolve Basilan’s energy challenges and is expected to start later this year.

NEA stressed that the project’s success depends on cooperation from local governments and residents. “We just have to make our constituents understand that they have to pay for electricity,” Almeda told officials present, which included Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman, citing a successful increase in collection efficiency in Lanao del Sur as a model. “We can do the same in Basilan.”

NPC President Jericho Nograles and DOE Secretary Sharon Garin also joined the forum, underscoring the link between reliable electricity and sustainable development. “If we can unleash the island’s potential, Basilan can become a showcase for sustainable development,” Garin said, according to Almeda.

As part of the rehabilitation effort, NEA will deploy 3,100 solar home systems this year under its photovoltaic mainstreaming program, with 5,000 additional units planned for 2026 to serve off-grid households.

What measures should be taken to ensure the BASELCO rehabilitation delivers long-term improvements for Basilan’s power sector?

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