13K households in northern Iloilo islands to benefit from electrification project

More than 13,000 households in island barangays in northern Iloilo will soon have access to electricity.

This, after the successful groundbreaking ceremony for the P388-million Estancia-Manlot-Calagna-an-Sicogon Islands Submarine Cable Interconnection Project  in Barangay San Fernando, Carles town on March 7. 

Funded by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and implemented by the Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO III), the project aims to electrify the islands of Manlot, Calagnaan and Sicogon through a submarine cable connected to the main grid.

It involves extending the 13.2KV distribution line from Barangay Dacutan, Estancia, to the three islands. the extension will utilize three segments of submarine cable to deliver a reliable 24/7 power supply to nine barangays in the islands.

Present during the event were House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Iloilo Fifth District Representative Boboy Tupas, Board Member Binky Tupas, ILECO III general manager Atty. James Balsomo II, Carles Mayor Segfred Betita, Ayala Land director Fernando Zobel de Ayala, and Iloilo City Representative Jamjam  Baronda. 

Balsomo said the electrification project is the “single largest rural electrification project” under the Total Electrification Program of the Department of Energy (DOE). 

“We are thankful for the Barangay Line Enhancement Program (BLEP) of the NEA for funding this event. Once matapos ito, magkakaroon na ng ilaw sa mga tahanan ng ating mga member-consumers,” he added. 

Tupas, meanwhile, thanked all those who contributed to efforts in pursuing the long-awaited project.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng tumulong para magkaroon ng pundo ang proyektong ito. Sa mga lot owner, sa mga tao sa komunidad na sumang-ayon para magkaroon na ng ilaw sa mga barangay sa Carles, Iloilo,” he said.

“Matagal natin itong hinintay, at ngayon, sisimulan na natin ang proyektong ito,” said Tupas who pushes for the realization of the project,” Tupas added.

Expected to be completed in 170 calendar days, the project will start at Barangay Daculan, Estancia to Barangay Manlot, Carles, with a cable connection of 2,400 meters.

The second segment will connect Manlot to Barangay Talingting Calagnaan Island with a length of 700 meters, while the last segment will link Punta Batuanan to Calagnaan Island in Barangay San Fernando, Sicogon Island, stretching to some 1,400 meters.IMT