Quezon city: The reliability of power services in Palawan is set to improve significantly through a collaborative effort involving the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the provincial government, the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), and the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO). The memorandum of agreement (MOA) among these entities was signed at the NEA head office in Quezon City on Tuesday, marking a pivotal step towards enhancing the province’s power infrastructure.

According to Philippines News Agency, the agreement outlines a plan for NEA experts to conduct a feasibility study on establishing three radial loops in the north, south, and Puerto Princesa within six months. This study is a precursor to the project’s potential rollout as early as the latter part of 2027, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda revealed during a briefing. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has mandated that implementation should occur no later than June 2028.

Almeda expressed optimism about the project’s timeline, stating, “I am optimistic, I am positive, that we will devote six months for the feasibility study, and after which we will immediately commence the rollout in the field. I’m looking at end of 2027. That’s, of course, wishful thinking, but we’ll try our best with all the help.” He further mentioned plans to form a task force by utilizing personnel from electric cooperatives to expedite the process.

While the capital for the program is still undetermined pending the feasibility study’s results, Almeda compared it to a similar project in Mindoro, which has a smaller budget of about PHP2 billion. He estimated that the Palawan project would require between PHP4 billion and PHP5 billion. The goal is to establish infrastructure capable of efficiently transmitting power across Palawan and accommodating capacities from renewable energy sources.