Ilocos norte: The Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) announced its ambitious plan to achieve 100-percent electrification of the province by 2028, aligning with the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s term. This initiative aims to connect all remaining households to the power grid, enhancing access to electricity across the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, INEC’s acting general manager Cipriano Martinez III revealed that a recent survey identified approximately 1,700 households in Ilocos Norte that are still without power. “We took an inventory of these households and made an assessment of how much is needed to give them access to electricity,” Martinez stated, emphasizing the cooperative’s commitment to making the President’s home province a model for nationwide electrification efforts.

To achieve this goal, INEC plans to collaborate with local officials and political leaders. In his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28, President Marcos highlighted his administration’s efforts to bring electricity to every Filipino home. Since taking office in 2022, approximately 2.5 million of the more than 5 million initially unelectrified homes have been connected to the power grid.

The Department of Energy has previously stated that achieving full electrification in the country by 2028 would require investments amounting to PHP72 billion.