Liberal Party (LP) Senatorial candidate and former Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jericho Petilla is optimistic that the government can achieve 100 percent household electrification target before PNoy steps down from office.

In 2011, the PNoy administration launched the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) which aimed to electrify sitios from far-flung areas with no electricity. Based on the inventory, the government identified about 32,441 sitios without electricity and the target set was to electrify all these sitios.

In a recent ceremonial switch-on of a sitio in Bohol, PNoy was happy to announce that 32,026 sitios or 98.72 percent of the target set in 2011 has been electrified. Pnoy was quick to laud the DOE and NEA for making sure that the yearly target was hit. He also acknowledged Petilla who, during his stint in DOE, laid the groundwork for the faster implementation of the electrification program.

The former DOE secretary says he is humbled by the recognition of his work by no less than the President himself, but he was quick to clarify that it was the collaboration between the  various government entities as well as the efforts of the electric cooperatives that spelled the success of the program.

If elected into office, Petilla vows to continue his advocacy to make electricity available to everyone – including the poor and the marginalized. He believes that electricity is not just a sign of progress but is the first sign of hope of our people.