More than 400 homes in Alpaco, Naga energized through Visayan Electric project

More than 400 homes in Barangay Alpaco, City of Naga, Cebu were officially energized through Visayan Electric‘s ER 1-94 Rural Electrification and House Wiring Project on July 2, 2026, giving hundreds of families access to safe and reliable electricity for the first time.

We don’t only want those qualified homeowners to be given their own electricity source but we also want no one to be left behind. We understand that this is a need for everyone, to increase economic activity in the area, and to make our lives easier and better.

— Engr. Mark Anthony Kindica

President and General Manager of Visayan Electric

The project addresses a long-standing need in rural communities, where legal electrical connections remain out of reach for many households because of installation costs and limited access.

For Cebu, this represents more than another infrastructure milestone. Access to electricity supports safer homes, enables children to study at night, improves opportunities for livelihood, and reduces reliance on unsafe or illegal power connections, ensuring that development reaches more Cebuanos, regardless of where they live.

Bridging communities through reliable power

According to Visayan Electric President and General Manager Engr. Mark Anthony Kindica, the project is funded through the Department of Energy’s ER 1-94 program, which allocates benefits to communities hosting power generation facilities.

Rather than simply expanding the distribution network, the initiative aims to ensure that more qualified households gain access to a basic necessity that supports education, livelihood, and everyday living.

“We don’t only want those qualified homeowners to be given their own electricity source but we also want no one to be left behind. We understand that this is a need for everyone, to increase economic activity in the area, and to make our lives easier and better, according to Engr. Mark Anthony Kindica, President and General Manager of Visayan Electric.

The initiative also encourages responsible power consumption. During the ceremony, Visayan Electric Customer Retail Services Department Manager Saira Abigael Verula reoriented new consumers on their responsibilities, from monthly meter readings to settling their bills through Visayan Electric’s growing network of payment channels, including accredited payment centers such as Palawan Express.

The orientation also reflected Visayan Electric’s continuing efforts to make bill payments more accessible through both over-the-counter and digital platforms, giving new customers more convenient ways to manage their accounts.

A brighter future for families in Alpaco

The beneficiaries were first gathered on February 26, 2026, when Visayan Electric personnel conducted an orientation, explained the application requirements, and introduced future consumers to their responsibilities.

In the months that followed, electric poles and distribution lines were installed throughout the community. The July 2 energization ceremony marked the completion of those efforts, with electric meters installed for residents who had fulfilled all documentary requirements and signed their service contracts.

For residents, the project removes one of the biggest barriers to obtaining electricity: the cost of setting up a legal household connection.

Barangay Captain Rogelio Ababa shared that Alpaco was honored to be chosen as the beneficiary among the 28 barangays in the City of Naga, describing the selection as an unexpected but welcome opportunity for the community.

Homeowner and Alpaco local Rowena Sanchez recalled that many residents in the barangay either had no electricity or depended on illegal connections before the project.

She is appreciative of the project and said that this allows families to save on installation costs while giving them peace of mind through safe and legitimate electrical service.

As more than 400 homes in Alpaco are now connected to the grid, the project demonstrates how rural electrification goes beyond powering households. It powers opportunities for children to learn, families to live more safely, and communities across Cebu to move forward together.

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