Remote, conflict-affected village in Agusan Norte energized

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 13, 2024): Remote, conflict-affected village in Agusan Norte energized (By Alexander Lopez)

ENERGIZED. Residents of Sitio Salaming, Barangay Bokbokon, Las Nieves greet Agusan del Norte Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante (2nd left) and Mayor Karen Rosales (left) upon their arrival on Monday (Feb. 12, 2024) for the energization activity. The Sitio Electrification Program of the National Electrification Administration has a budget of PHP17.4 million to energize six sitios in Bokbokon this year. (Photo courtesy of Agusan del Norte PIO)

BUTUAN CITY – Residents of a remote village in Agusan del Norte’s Las Nieves town have expressed gratitude to the government for energizing their community.

“Electrification has reached our small sitio because of the reign of peace and the cooperation of our residents to the government,” Agusan del Norte Governor Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante said in a statement Tuesday.

On Monday, the governor, together with Antonio Mariano Almeda of National Electrification Administration, led other officials on switch-on activity at Sitio Salaming, the home of the Higaonon tribe, in the town's Barangay Bokbokon.

The switch-on activity, which was under the Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) of NEA and the Agusan Del Norte Electric Cooperative, lighted up at least 30 houses in the sub-village.

The energization of Salaming alone considered the innermost sitio in Bokbokon, costs some PHP3.6 million from a total project cost of PHP17.4 million for six sub-villages of Bokbokon this year.

“Five other sitios (sub-communities) are expected to be energized as the groundworks are already being done,” Michael Mandahinog of the Las Nieves information office said on Tuesday.

Other sitios up for energization, he said, are Panabol with PHP4.2 million appropriation; Baligihan (PHP1.8 million); Bakidkid (PHP1.9 million); Binaway (PHP4.5 million); and Makabay (PHP1.2 million).

Around 200 more households from the five sitios will benefit from the program.

Las Nieves town Mayor Karen Rosales thanked the provincial government and the NEA for realizing the energization of the far-flung villages in the town.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1218752