Ilocos norte: In some of the most remote and isolated communities of Ilocos Norte, the arrival of electricity means far more than simply switching on a light. It means a child can study after sunset. A family can store food safely. A small enterprise can operate equipment. A health station can provide better services. A community once limited by darkness can begin to imagine new possibilities.

According to Philippines News Agency, Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) general manager Cipriano 'Perry' Martinez III stated in an interview on Friday afternoon that through the continuing rural electrification program, electricity is reaching communities in the province's remote areas. He emphasized that this initiative is a key part of INEC's mandate to bridge the gap between remote villages and the rest of Ilocos Norte, serving as a tribute to the late president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., known as the 'Father of Rural Electrification.' Marcos Sr. signed Presidential Decree 269 on August 6, 1973, transforming the National Electrification Administration into a corporation aimed at achieving total electrification of the Philippines.

While all 559 barangays of Ilocos Norte are considered 100 percent energized, Martinez noted that a small number of households in certain sitios still lack electricity. He highlighted that for these remote households, electricity represents an opportunity rather than a luxury, and vowed to ensure that every home in the province is illuminated.

Such is the case for 66 households in Barangay Bagut, Dingras, and 35 households in Barangay 16, Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, who will no longer need to visit nearby charging stations. Representatives of these households were invited to witness the ceremonial switch-on of their sitios at the INEC main branch in Dingras town, coinciding with the 109th birth anniversary of Marcos Sr.

Village chiefs Marcelo Castillo of Bagut, Dingras, and Manuelito Agoto of Barangay 16, Sarrat, expressed their gratitude for the program. Castillo thanked INEC for their service in extending resources to remote areas, while Agoto highlighted the improved study conditions for students with access to electricity. He also hoped for continued support from INEC.

For these families, the arrival of reliable electricity is more than just an infrastructure development; it opens up new possibilities for their future.