The University of the Philippines (UP) took part in two signings of memoranda at the HES Auditorium in the National Electrification Administration Building, Quezon City, on January 18, 2024.
The first signing was of a Memorandum of Understanding between UP, the National Electrification Administration (NEA), and Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), establishing a partnership among the three agencies in support of the Accelerated Total Electrification Plan. The second signing was of a Memorandum of Agreement between the NEA and UP on the joint research and training for the Electric Cooperatives.
The Accelerated Total Electrification Plan is the Department of Energy’s (DOE) strategic plan to accelerate total electrification in the country within the first half of the year, focusing especially on Mindanao, which has the greatest number of households still without adequate access to electricity. The DOE and NEA are jointly undertaking the implementation of the total electrification plan, which will be significantly boosted by the effective use of satellite-technology and the Geographical Information System (GIS) in: the identification of households in the off-grid areas; and the analysis, planning and implementation of remote rural electrification. These will be undertaken through technical assistance by, and data-sharing and collaboration with the PhilSA and UP through the latter’s National Engineering Center.
Notable attendees during this event included UP President Angelo Jimenez, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, PhilSA Director-General Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr., UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jerwin Agpaoa representing UP Diliman, and DOE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan.
NEA Administrator Almeda welcomed the guests, stating that this event was a celebration of new partnerships that will become the foundation of a fully electrified Philippines.
UP President Jimenez stated that one of the main reasons he supports this collaborative project with both NEA and PhilSA is that this goes back to the mission of the University of serving the people. “To impact the Filipino people, as mentioned by our first UP President, we have to bring this knowledge, training, and expertise out of the University to actually benefit people,” he said.
With this new partnership, the goal of a fully realized electrified Philippines is becoming more possible each day. It won’t be long now when UP, NEA, and PhilSA will bring about a much brighter and prosperous future for the nation.
