President Aquino leads ceremonial lighting of 2,864 sitios in Central Visayas

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (Photo by Robert Viñas/Malacañang Photo Bureau)

TAGBILARAN, Bohol – President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday led the switch-on ceremony for the electrification of sitios in Central Visayas.

Under the Sitio Electrification Program in Region VII, 2,684 sitios have already been energized from October 2011 to January 2016, with a total of 31,253 initial household connections.

“Ngayong araw nga po, nasaksihan na natin ang seremonyal na pagpapailaw ng 2,684 na sitio dito sa Central Visayas sa ilalim ng Sitio Electrification Program na pinangunahan ng DOE, ng NEA, at nagawa sa tulong ng ating mga electric cooperatives. Maraming salamat po sa kanilang lahat,” Aquino said in his speech.

The energized sitios include 469 in Bohol province, 2,097 in Cebu province and 118 in Siquijor province.

“Ang good news, dito po sa Bohol, 100 percent energized na po ang ni-report sa atin sa lahat ng inyong mga sitio,” he said.

The President said the government has already energized 32,026 sitios in the whole country, a 98.72 percent completion rate.

“Bago nga raw po matapos ang Marso, matatapos na ang lahat ng natukoy sa ating imbentaryo. Marso pong kasalukuyan iyan, hindi 2017,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony are Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Zenaida Monsada, Department of Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Bohol Governor Edgardo Chatto, and Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos.

Chatto expressed gratitude to President Aquino for the Sitio Electrification Program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Bottom-up Budgeting, and the New Panglao Airport, among others.