State-run National Electrification Administration said the delayed delivery of solar panels from China affected an off-grid solar project for 5,000 households amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
The NEA Total Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Department noted the non-delivery of solar panels was holding up the project.
“The competitive bidding process and the awarding of contracts to the successful bidders have already been completed. We are just awaiting delivery of solar panels, which will be coming from China,” Ernesto Silvano Jr., acting manager of NEA-TEREDD, said in a statement.
NEA allotted P153 million to cover the implementation of the solar mainstreaming project under its Expanded Household Electrification Program.
“The PV [photovoltaic] mainstreaming program is an off-grid electrification scheme that aims to bring electricity to the most dispersed and isolated households that are deemed unviable for grid connection in the next five years,” Silvano said.
The beneficiaries are households under the coverage areas of five electric cooperatives, including Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative Inc., Camarines Sur IV Electric Cooperative Inc., Iloilo III Electric Cooperative Inc., Cotabato Electric Cooperative Inc., and Zamboanga del Norte Electric Co-operative Inc.
The agency said of the 5,039 solar home system units for distribution and installation in off-grid communities, BISELCO will receive 1,200 SHS units; COTELCO, 1,063 units; ZANECO, 967 units; ILECO III, 931 units; and CASURECO IV, 878 SHS units.