Forty years ago, nearly 80% of the total population in the Philippines lived in rural areas of the country and less than 10% had access to any form of electric service.  The Government of the Philippines, acting on recommendations from NRECA International, Ltd., established the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and proclaimed a goal of universal electrification in the Philippines on an area coverage basis, primarily through the establishment of new rural electric cooperatives (REC) service providers. 

Over the past four decades NEA, with continuous support from NRECA International, has helped to establish 119 RECs, which provide modern energy service to over 80% of the rural population in the country.  Electric service provided by the RECs has improved rural living conditions and resulted in sustained economic development, especially in value-added agriculture, to millions of rural Filipino households and businesses.

NRECA International continues to provide ongoing technical assistance to the Rural Electrification Finance Corporation (REFC).   The REFC was designed and created by NRECA International to address the RECs’ financing requirements for distribution system replacements and upgrades, system loss and service quality improvements, and new technology and training programs. NRECA is also assisting several RECs in Panay in establishing a power supply consortium that will address challenges and take advantage of opportunities created by the power sector restructuring law.

Philippines Rural Electric Cooperative Program Celebrates 40 Years of Success
(International Tieline Newsletter, September 2009)

Early last month, the NEA and the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA) held the International Convention on Rural Electrification in Manila to celebrate the accomplishments of the project and discuss the way forward.