ISABELA CITY, Basilan โ The Department of Energy (DOE) has pledged an initial โฑ200-million subsidy to help rehabilitate Basilanโs crippled power system as part of efforts to address the provinceโs worsening electricity crisis.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, along with National Power Corporation (Napocor) President Jericho Nograles and National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Almeda, met with local officials during the first-ever Basilan Energy Forum held at the 101st Infantry Brigade headquarters here on Monday, October 7.
The forum, initiated by Governor Mujiv Hataman, tackled โintermediate solutionsโ to stabilize the provinceโs erratic power supply, which residents have described as one of Basilanโs biggest post-conflict challenges.
โOur problem before used to be Abu Sayyaf, but now, itโs electricity,โ Hataman told energy officials. โYour visit is very timely because if itโs about energy, the three of you can help solve the problem.โ
Garin acknowledged that inadequate and unstable power supply continues to hinder Basilanโs growth. โEnergy is a key driver of development,โ she said, assuring that the DOE and its attached agencies are working closely with local governments to restore reliable electricity in the province.
During the dialogue, the DOE and NEA committed the โฑ200-million subsidy for Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco) to begin rehabilitation of its power lines. The full system overhaul, however, will require around โฑ800 million, officials said.
Baselco currently owes Napocor โฑ4.3 billion, a debt that has long strained its operations. Widespread power pilferage and the absence of meters in more than 100,000 households, with only 45,000 having functional meters, compounded the power cooperative’s system loss, Nograles and Almeda revealed.
Hataman assured national agencies that the provincial government is ready to collaborate on rehabilitation efforts, emphasizing that cooperation between local government units (LGUs) and national agencies is crucial in restoring public trust in Basilanโs power sector.
Mayors from across the province joined the forum, including Maluso Mayor Kaiser Hataman, Tabuan Lasa Mayor Moner Manisan, Lantawan Mayor Nasser Abubakar, Ungkaya Pukan Mayor Jomar Maturan, Tipo-Tipo Mayor Ingatun Istarul, Mohammad Adjul Mayor Talib Pawaki, and Tuburan Mayor Durrie Kallahal. Isabela City Vice Mayor Nims Ajibon represented Mayor Dadah Turabin-Hataman. (with reports from Nonoy Lacson)
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