Gov’t lights up sitios nationwide by Elaine O. Ratunil
LAGUINDINGAN – The national government energized another sitios nationwide.
In a ceremony, Pres. Benigno Aquino III led the switch-on ceremony for the electrification of the 32,441 sitios nationwide under the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP). Upon his arrival, the President,
assisted by Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada and National Electrification (NEA) Administrator Edita S. Bueno, pushed the knife switch that turnedon the LED lights representing the 32,441 sitios nationwide under the
SEP. This surpasses the committed sitios reaching to 32,688, having 247 additional sitios energized from September 2011 to March 31, 2016. The inauguration of the nationwide SEP is carried out at the premise of the pioneer electric cooperative of the Philippines, the Misamis Oriental-1 Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. (MORESCO-1), which has consistently delivered SEP requirements, as having one of the highest number of sitios energized. Delegates from the 33 electric coops under the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Coops (AMRECO) and representatives of recipient barangays of the program in Misamis Oriental witnessed the ceremony. In his speech, Pres. Aquino explained the relevance of electrification in the use of new technology which helps improve lives of the people.
As PNoy’s flagship program, SEP started in 2011 through DOE and NEA in collaboration with the electric cooperatives (ECs) all over the country. This was effected with the following mandate: Sitio Electrification and Barangay Line Enhancement Programs shall be given priority and are must do programs during his term in compliance to his social contract with the Filipino people. The economic pillars of the Aquino Administration are job creation and investment generation to improve the lives of the Filipinos, especially the poor. The P20.05B fund released to 117 electric cooperatives bolstered the full completion the program, with the bulk of amount dispensed to Luzon having the highest list of recipients for electrification reaching to 11,671, followed by Mindanao with 10,800 and Visayas with 10,217 sitios.
Pantawid Pamilya sparks hope for a young dreamer
by Recthie T. Paculba
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Dahil dito, ako ay naniniwala na meron pa kaming pag-asa sa buhay.
(Because of this, I believe that we
still have hope in life), Jinky Gomez, 15, expressed how the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) changes their lives during the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) Switchon Ceremony on April 13 at Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental. Gomez’s family has been a member of the Pantawid Pamilya since 2011 and for her, the program really helped them meet both ends having only their father, who works as a jeepney driver, earn for the 12 members of the family. “Dahil dito, ‘yung iba kong mga kapatid ay hindi nakapag-aaral sa college, at sa murang edad, nagtatrabaho na lamang upang makatulong sa pamilya, (With this, my other sibling were not able to attend college education and at a very young age, they prefer to work so they can help the family),” Gomez shared. Being a witness to how her family struggled from poverty every time they clamour for tuition fees, allowance, food and other expenditures, Gomez has seen how their lives changed when they were chosen to be one of the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya. Thus, Gomez wanted to correct the misinformation spreading that the assistance is not properly handled by the beneficiaries and that the latter no longer toil as they only wait for the money to be given to them.
“Ako at ang aking pamilya ay dati naghirap, naging beneficiary ng 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilya) at nagsasabi sa inyo na dahil dito, kami ay medyo nakaahon na sa kahirapan (I and my family have struggled before, became a beneficiary of 4Ps and now we’re telling you that because of this program, we are now rising up from poverty),” the 15-year-old beneficiary stressed. She also added that even if they are receiving a grant from the government, they have been responsible in handling the money and they only spend it for their education, and they comply with the program’s conditions. The Pantawid Pamilya is a human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18. It is patterned after the conditional cash transfer (CCT) schemes in Latin American and African countries, which have lifted millions of people around the world from poverty.
Fisherman relieved after receiving electrification program by Irene Joy B. Dayo
LAGUINDINGAN – Rogen Amantiad, a 37-year old fisherman, expressed his gratitude being a resident of Sitio Sampaguita, Lugait town, Misamis Oriental which is one of the beneficiaries of Sitio Electrification Program.
SEP is a flagship program of the government that started in 2011 through Department of Energy (DOE) and National Electrification Administration (NEA) and in collaboration with the electric cooperatives (ECs) nationwide. The program aimed at encouraging economic boost that would lead
to job generation and bring in investments to the rural areas. Amantiad is a father of five children and had been living at the shores of Sampaguita until a demolition at Barangay Calangahan which their sitio is part of challenged them. They were then transferred to a relocation site which he said has no electricity. “Pag-abot namo anang relocation site wala jud suga… Kun magtuon pa among mga bata, masunog pa usahay ang buhok kay idungo man ana among suga nga lamparilya (When we reached the relocation site, there
is no electricity that even when our children are studying, the lamp that served as light will burn their hair),” he said. He is just grateful that after over a year of patience, the electrification program came to their place. “Pag-abot sa pagsiga sa suga, dako jud among kalipay nga nahatagan mi ug kahayag (When the bulb was switched on, we are really happy that finally we are provided with light),” he said. Sampaguita is just one of 32,688 unenergized sitios that are finally lighted up by the SEP. The program is a part of Sitio Electrification and Barangay Line Enhancement Programs that have been must do programs under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III as compliance to his social contract to Filipinos. P20.05-billion fund was released to 117 electrical cooperatives accom-
modating 11,671 recipients for Luzon, and 10,800 and 10,217 to Mindanao and Visayas, respectively. Under SEP, residents are only obliged to pay membership fee, bill deposit equivalent to 1-month estimated consumption and other incidental expenses for membership. Other than that is to secure building permit prior to connection. Thereafter, the house wiring cost, labor cost, meter base, 30-meter service drop and all the structural materials to be installed will be shouldered by the SEP. Pres. Benigno Aquino III inaugurated on 13 April 2016 the last SEP switch-on ceremony under his incumbency. It was held at the premise of Misamis Oriental – 1 Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. (MORESCO-1), one of the cooperatives that energized the highest number of sitios.