The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is channeling the majority of its ₱3.6-billion 2025 funding into expanding power access in far-flung and underserved parts of the country, with Mindanao emerging as the top priority. Nearly 70% of the total budget of ₱2.5 billion has been allocated to energize Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) across the region.
The figures, released by NEA’s Total Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Department, reflect the agency’s continued push to bridge energy gaps in communities long left off the grid.
Provinces across Mindanao are poised to benefit from the electrification push, with proposed projects mapped out in Zamboanga del Sur and Norte, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, both Cotabato provinces, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, and Sulu.
The rollout also extends to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, and the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Sur have been included in the pipeline of priority areas.
Meanwhile, Luzon is set to receive ₱701.2 million—equivalent to 19% of the total—for electrification work in Palawan, Kalinga, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Cagayan, and Nueva Vizcaya.
In the Visayas, ₱462.6 million, or 13% of the budget, will support expanded power access in Negros Occidental, Northern and Eastern Samar, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, and Siquijor.
(Also read: Globe Telecom Expands RE Use with First Sites Powered in Mindanao)
Funding increase
Describing the upcoming budget as a significant milestone, NEA chief Antonio Mariano Almeda said the ₱3.6 billion earmarked by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) marks a substantial jump from the agency’s previous annual funding, which hovered between ₱1.6 billion and ₱1.8 billion.
Almeda credited the budget increase to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push to expand energy access in remote communities, aligning with the administration’s target of nationwide electrification by 2028.
To meet this goal, NEA is rolling out a three-pronged approach that includes energizing off-grid sitios, upgrading existing barangay power lines, and scaling up solar photovoltaic adoption through its flagship programs.
Administrator Almeda described the Solar Photovoltaic Mainstreaming (PVM) Program as a catalyst in extending electricity to remote, off-grid areas. For 2025, NEA is eyeing the deployment of 50,000 to 60,000 solar home systems (SHS) in far-flung communities. So far, 26,292 units have been installed nationwide through the agency’s collaboration with 121 electric cooperatives.
“It’s an uphill climb and challenging, but the NEA is fully determined to reach people on the mountainside,” noted Almeda.
Possible Camiguin-Mindanao power interconnection
In May, NEA teamed up with Madrid-based Osprel SL to study the viability of linking Camiguin Island to the Mindanao power grid through a submarine cable system. The collaboration includes drafting a comprehensive technical plan for a streamlined undersea connection designed to enhance the island’s energy reliability.
Spanish Ambassador Miguel Delgado said the initiative aims to directly address Camiguin’s rising demand for stable electricity. “This is a meticulous and technically demanding endeavor,” he stated. “But it is precisely what we need if we want to move forward with real solutions and build lasting and sustainable progress.”
Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol, who was present at the formal signing event, stated the project is expected to help reduce system losses and drive down electricity costs in Camiguin. She also explained that it would support the smooth incorporation of renewable sources into Mindanao’s power network.
Situated in the Bohol Sea just north of Mindanao, Camiguin relies on Camiguin Electric Cooperative Inc. (CAMELCO) as its sole power distributor.
The collaboration with the Spanish engineering consultancy supports NEA’s broader mandate to spearhead rural electrification efforts across the country.
(Also read: NEA to Study Power Grid Link for Tourist Island Camiguin)
Sources:
https://powerphilippines.com/nea-to-spend-php-3-6b-to-electrify-remote-areas-focus-on-mindanao/
https://tribune.net.ph/2025/07/04/nea-pours-bulk-of-electrification-fund-into-mindanao
