LEGAZPI CITY – The Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco) has started constructing two substations funded by a P387-million subsidy from the National Electrification Administration.
In an interview, Mark Jessan Lucilo, Aleco’s technical services department manager, said that each substation, located in Daraga and Ligao City, will be built within a period of nine months and will be completed by May 2026.
“This development will reduce power interruptions and address low-voltage issues. The system loss in the area will be minimized, ultimately helping the electricity company manage its overall system loss. A lower system loss will also contribute to lower rates for customers,” Lucilo said.
Line rehabilitation is underway in Guinobatan and in Barangay Misibis, with a maximum completion period of six months or March 2026.
Lucilo said that the P387 million was part of a P1.2-billion subsidy fund that Aleco sought to enhance and improve service across the 18 cities and towns of the province.
Aleco said it has been working to install substations in all towns and cities of Albay.
“If additional subsidies are allocated, we can install substations in every town. I am confident that this will lead to a 100 percent improvement in our services,” he added.
He cited the energization of the Salvacion substation in Sto. Domingo as an example of enhanced power service.
“Since it was energized, it has improved service in low-voltage areas. While there are still occasional brownouts, the frequency of brownouts has decreased, and voltage levels have increased,” he said.
Lucilo said Batch 2 of the project would only commence after Batch 1 shall have been 80 percent completed. (PNA)
