THE Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) has identified 642 sitios in the province of Benguet that are yet to be energized.
Beneco Network Service Department (NSD) manager Engineer Ramel Rifani said the sitio energization is under the national government through the National Electrification Administration (NEA) implemented by the rural electric distribution utilities similar to Beneco.
"The government has spent around P233 million in the implementation of the sitio energization program in Baguio and Benguet, while 310 sitios are due for funding under the SEP with an estimated cost of P168.6 million," Rifany said.
The electric coop aims to bring electricity to the most depressed and far-flung areas under Beneco's area of operation.
The towns of Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, Mankayan, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay are the areas with remaining sitios scheduled for energization, while 744 sitios in Baguio City and 124 sitios in Benguet's capital town La Trinidad have been provided with electricity.
Beneco officer-in-charge Engineer Melchor Licoben said that for this year, the NEA allotted P80 million for Beneco's sitio energization but due to the present health pandemic, the fund was reverted back to the agency's general fund for Covid response, even before the fund was downloaded to the electric cooperative.
Beneco has so far fully energized the 128 barangays in Baguio City and 140 barangays in Benguet Province in its franchise areas for the last four decades.
The electric cooperative is one of few electric cooperatives in the country given a Class AAA rating for its ability in sustaining a single digit systems lost with a 100 percent collection efficiency compliant to industry standards.