Valencia: The Energy Development Corp. has turned over PHP11.28 million in Electrification Fund (EF) assistance to the Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative (NORECO II) under the government's Energy Regulations (ER) 1-94 program. According to Philippines News Agency, the fund, which had remained unutilized since 2019, was released after NORECO II completed the Department of Energy requirements for the Local Total Electrification Roadmap.
"This amount turned over to NORECO II is equivalent to the projects proposed," EDC Negros Corporate Relations head Erwin Magallanes stated. "We value this partnership with NORECO II in fulfilling our mission of forging collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future."
The allocation will support electrification projects in 13 unserved villages in Valencia town, with completion targeted by December. Under the DOE's enhanced circular (DC2025-10-0023), the remittance rate for ER1-94 beneficiaries increased to three centavos per kilowatt-hour of electricity sales from the previous one centavo. The electrification fund allocation, however, remains at 0.5 percent of the total remitted amount.
The turnover ceremony was attended by NORECO II general manager Fe Marie Dicen Tagle, EDC corporate relations and corporate communications head Maria Nancy Ibuna, and Magallanes. During a press conference, Tagle said the initial projects will prioritize the villages of Malaunay, Caidiocan, and Puhagan in Valencia, where EDC's geothermal power plants are located. She added that other electrification projects in Valencia and other areas in Negros Oriental identified as host-recipient areas of EDC's ER1-94 remittances will also be implemented.
Tagle mentioned that the original plan was to electrify the remote village of Dobdob in Valencia, but implementation was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The area was later included in NORECO II's sitio electrification program. She noted that the PHP31 million originally allocated for the Dobdob project was diverted to pandemic-related expenditures. The PHP11.28 million released represents only part of the approximately PHP50 million in Electrification Fund allocations available to NORECO II under the ER1-94 program.
