Burgos: Twenty-four households in the newly established sitio (sub-village) of Babang in this town can now sleep better at night as their homes are now connected to the power grid.

According to Philippines News Agency, the residents can now enjoy simple entertainment, such as listening to the radio or singing at karaoke, thanks to the newly activated 25-kilovolt-amperes (kVA) transformer in the area. Regina Cariaga, a 48-year-old resident, expressed gratitude towards the municipal government of Burgos, particularly Vice Mayor Russel Jenald Garcia, and the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) through acting general manager Cipriano 'Perry' Martinez for responding to their request.

Another resident, 16-year-old Cathryn Garalde, noted the convenience of not needing to charge her phone elsewhere or rely on solar power to conduct research or review lessons at home. The ceremonial switch-on of the 25-kVA transformer in Sitio Babang in Barangay Bobon was led by Martinez and other INEC officials.

Martinez stated that the 25 kVA transformer is currently sufficient to supply electricity to the homes in the sitio. He highlighted that the energization project supports the Rural Electrification Program of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), which has allocated nearly PHP1 million to bring electricity to remote communities in the province.

Despite some households in Ilocos Norte still lacking electricity due to various factors, Martinez affirmed that INEC, in collaboration with the provincial government, is committed to reaching these underserved areas by connecting them to the grid or utilizing solar power, depending on feasibility. Currently, INEC serves approximately 185,000 member-consumer-owners with an average consumption of 52 megawatts.