By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, Oct 30 (PNA) – The National Electrification Administration (NEA) was recognized as the first government owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) to bag the Island of Good Governance (IGG) after showing a stellar performance in the public sector.
The NEA said in a statement that the award was given by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) on October 21.
NEA administrator Edita Bueno said in the statement that the agency targets to accomplish three goals by the end of 2015 “to raise the standard of public governance”.
She cited the two unaccomplished goals which are 100 percent energization of 32,441 sitios and providing another 1.4 million connection for customer.
The administrator stressed the GOCC is nearing its sitio-electrification target of 32,441 as it has energized a total of 27,011 sitios. She added the count brings a total of 55 million Filipinos served by the Rural Electrification Program (REP).
Bueno also reported the NEA connected its 11 millionth consumer. It is vital in reaching the 90 percent household electrification target by 2017, which is expected to grow to 85 percent by the end of this year from 86,229 households.
For the third goal, which was already implemented, she said NEA targeted to loan out PHP 5 billion to electric cooperatives (ECs). However, the GOCC has already released a total of PHP 6.78 billion.
The NEA head also said that “people’s involvement was one of the strong points of NEA, creating a sense of ownership for the employees for the programs that they implement.”
Atty. Fe Barin, former chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Energy Regulatory Commission, also praised NEA for being an enabler.
“You’re an enabler, providing electric cooperatives financial and technical assistance to energized areas,” she said.
The ISA will showcase a good governance report undertaken by NEA and other IGG awardees in the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. (PNA)