Gatchalian: Families need seamless power supply for distance learning

Senate Energy Committee chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply as some students turn to alternative learning modalities under the so-called new normal. 

  

"Many underprivileged students living in remote areas have no electricity and they will be left behind in their studies by more socially-advantaged students as well as those from private schools. The DOE should make true on its commitment of 100% electrification within the year," Gatchalian said. 

The senator said the DOE should expedite the provision of reliable electricity service to unserved and underserved areas. He added that the use of microgrid technology can help achieve full electrification. 

"Pagkatapos ng aming hearing ukol sa total electrification, ang DOE ay nag-isyu ng isang circular para sa paggamit ng microgrids upang tugunan ang kawalan ng kuryente sa remote areas. Kailangan talaga nating gumamit ng makabagong teknolohiya upang maabot natin ang lahat ng estudyante at households na nasa bundok at mga isla," Gatchalian said. 

(After our hearing on total electrification, the DOE issued a circular on the use of microgrids to address the lack of electricity in remote areas. We need new technology in order to reach students and households in the mountains and islands) 

 

The DOE earlier vowed 100% electrification of the country by 2020. It also allocated Php 500 million from its 2020 budget of P2.3 billion to its Total Electrification Program (TEP).

 

DOE data in 2019 said that 1,885,507 households or 7.71% of total households in the country have yet to be connected to the power grid. 1,187,769 of these households are in Mindanao, while Luzon has 364,409 and Visayas 333,329.