NEA loans to electric co-ops hit P2.8B in 2025

THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) said it disbursed loans totaling P2.8 billion to 45 electric cooperatives (ECs) in 2025, against P1.6 billion a year earlier.

In a statement on Wednesday, NEA said it has allocated P1.7 billion to fund the capital expenditure projects of 34 ECs, of which 15 were in Luzon, eight in the Visayas, and 11 in Mindanao.

The Accounts Management and Guarantee Department released P956 million for working capital loans of 11 ECs serving electricity consumers in Albay, Cagayan de Sulu, Camarines Sur, Cotabato, Negros Oriental, Northern Negros, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Sultan Kudarat and Tarlac.

Some ECs also received P142.2 million in calamity loans to rehabilitate vital energy infrastructure damaged by Super Typhoon Odette in 2021.

The NEA has been offering financial assistance to ECs through its Enhanced Lending Program. The mechanism aims to ensure their operations will continue for the benefit of their member-consumer-owners.

The program consists of regular, calamity, and concessional loans, standby and short-term credit, single-digit system loss loans, renewable energy loans, and modular generator set financing.

Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, tasks the NEA with overseeing missionary electrification and providing financial, institutional, and technical assistance to electric cooperatives.

NEA has a target of increasing the rural electrification rate to 94% by the end of 2026. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera