LAGUINDINGAN, MISAMIS ORIENTAL, April 15 – The government has surpassed its target of bringing electricity to rural areas nationwide through the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP).
The SEP, which was launched in September 2011 as a flagship program of President Benigno S. Aquino III, was able to energize 32,688 sitios as of last March 31. The target was 32,441 sitios.
President Aquino on Wednesday acknowledged former and present Energy secretaries, as well as the electric cooperatives that contributed to the successful implementation of the SEP.
“Dahil sa ginawa ng tatlong Kalihim ng ating Department of Energy, umpisa kay Rene Almendras, tumuloy kay Icot Petilla for the most part, at si Naidi (Zenaida) Monsada ang nagtapos nito. Tumulong ang lahat ng cooperative para mangyari ito. Hindi naman ho puro tauhan ng gobyerno ang gumawa nito. Tumulong kayo sa Sitio Electrification Program. Tumutulong kayo palagi pag may bagyo at nagbagsakan ang linya, kayo ang nagpapamadali ng panunumbalik ng kuryente,” President Aquino said after leading the switch-on ceremony at the Misamis Oriental-1 Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. (MORESCO-1) covered court in Barangay Poblacion here.
“Doon po sa pinagtulong-tulungan natin—ulitin ko, hindi si Noynoy Aquino ang gumawa nito—kayo ho ang gumawa. Idamay na lang ninyo ako. Tayo ho ang gumawa ng tagumpay na ito kaya maraming-maraming salamat sa inyo,” the President added.
“Gusto ko hong ipagdiinan: Sa Daang Matuwid ho kasi, ano ba ang pakay? Ang pakay ay …maglingkod sa taumbayan nang totoo,” he said.
Assisting the President in pushing the knife switch that turned on the LED lights representing the energized sitios nationwide, were Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada and National Electrification Administration (NEA) chief Edita Bueno.
Also present were Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, and MORESCO-1 Board President Nonito Labis and General Manager Engineer Julie Real.
The government has released P21 billion to 117 electric cooperatives to bolster the completion of the program. Luzon got the biggest share of the funding with 11,670 sitios energized, followed by Mindanao with 10,800, and Visayas with 10,218.
The SEP, which aims to boost the economy that would lead to job generation and bring in investments to rural areas, is under the supervision of NEA.
President Aquino also mentioned other government projects, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and PhilHealth, which have improved the lives of the Filipino people.
He noted that 4.6 million households are beneficiaries of the 4Ps and that 7.7 million Filipinos are now above the poverty line.
“Dito sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, nag-umpisa tayo sa 780,000 na kabahayan sa buong Pilipinas. Ngayon po, 4.6 million. Itong taon na ito, matatapos na po ang 200,000. Ang in-expand noong 2014 sa high school, ang unang nag-graduate doon, over 300,000. At sa number na iyan, kulang-kulang 14,000 ang honors,” said the President.
“Talagang ang isang sentrong mensaheng gusto kong iwan sa inyo ay lahat ng ginawa nating ito, nagmula dahil nagtulong-tulong tayong baguhin ang dinatnan nating sistema. Ang perang hindi nanakaw, nadala sa Sitio Electrification, nadala sa 4Ps, nadala sa 185,000 classrooms, nadala sa PhilHealth,” he added.
The President also mentioned the National Greening Program under which 1.5 billion trees would be planted in 1.5 million hectares.
With 78 days remaining in his term, President Aquino said he is leaving the country in a much better state for the next generation.
“Magpapaalam na po ako sa inyo. 78 days. Hindi ko alam kung makababalik pa ako. Talaga hong marami tayong napag-tagumpayan. Talagang palagay ko, puwede nating masabi ngayon pa lang na di hamak mas maganda ang iiwan natin sa susunod na salinlahi kaysa doon sa dinatnan natin. Talagang malaking karangalan pong mamuno ng isang dakilang lahi tulad ng Pilipino. At ito nga po ang utang ko sa inyong lahat,” he said. (PND)
