Manila: Mindanao is a priority for the government's electrification project due to the number of far-flung areas that still cannot be reached due to their location. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program Thursday, said 94.9 percent of households in the country are now energized.

According to Philippines News Agency, Garin emphasized that the 5 percent of households still without electricity is a pressing concern because of the fast growth rate. She noted that the government is focusing more on Mindanao as its progress in electrification has lagged behind Visayas and Luzon. Garin stated, "But the 5 percent is what we're always running after, because the growth rate is fast. But we're concentrating more on Mindanao because it's slower than Visayas and Luzon. And to also have parity, once you energize, progress comes in."

Garin acknowledged the challenges in extending the grid to remote islands, some located as far as 20 kilometers from the nearest tapping point, with only a few households. This has necessitated the need for innovative solutions to provide electricity to these areas.

One proposed solution involves the deployment of solar-powered facilities, which include a bulb, solar panels, and a battery pack for each household. Garin expressed hope that these solutions would help cover more islands and communities, emphasizing the need for unique solutions rather than merely connecting them to the grid.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Electrification Administration have been tasked, as per President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s fourth State of the Nation Address, to ensure the electrification of unserved households. To achieve this, the DOE is required to conduct a Competitive Selection Process for Microgrid System Providers to connect approximately 12,000 households in off-grid areas, including those in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Palawan, Masbate, Samar, Negros Occidental, and Zamboanga del Sur.