In a media fellowship on February 3, ANTECO Officer-in-Charge Jerose F. Mioten said 1,390 of the 1,465 sitios in the province now have electricity, and 23 of the remaining 75 unlit sitios, or an equivalent of 480 households, will be energized this year.

Mioten said that the estimated cost of the SEP is P100 million, which will be used in the construction of distribution lines and house wiring facilities for eligible households, among others.

The sitios in line for the 2023 SEP include one each in the towns of Hamtic, Culasi and Sebaste, two each in San Jose de Buenavista, San Remigio and Belison, three from Tobias Fornier, four in Patnongon, and seven in Sibalom.

Technical Services Division (TSD) manager Engr. Neal Peter Veñegas said that system losses due to technical causes can be minimized through facilities improvements, such as the replacement of old powerlines, upsizing of powerlines, installation of transformers in applicable scenarios, and others.

Veñegas then urged the public to cooperate during tree-clearing activities since vegetation near powerlines is a safety hazard and a contributor to system losses.

Further, regarding unremoved poles along newly widened roads, ANTECO officials said that they are in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in relocating electrical poles prior to the start of road-widening projects.