Lighting up low-income households in Isla Pugad, Hagonoy
In the fishing community of Barangay Pugad in Hagonoy, Bulacan, 47 low-income households are now benefiting from energized homes after One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), brought its Household Electrification Program (HEP) there in partnership with Meralco’s Malolos Business Center and Plaridel Sector, and the local government.
Isla Pugad, which can be reached via a 30-minute boat ride from Paombong port, is isolated due to waters surrounding the community. Many residents rely on fishing, boat rentals and working as market vendors for their income. Given the financial challenges, many of these households can't afford to cover the cost of installing their own service entrances and would instead resort to submetering electricity from their neighbors.
For decades now, senior citizens Felino and Blesilda Fajardo, residents of the island barangay, have relied on their neighbor for access to power as it was difficult for them to process the requirements to have their own line due to logistical and financial constraints. Blesilda said, “Wala kaming sariling kuntador... dati po kasi walang ganyan na nag-o-offer ng pagpapakabit ng kuryente. Mahirap po kasi ilakad, dahil magbabalik-balik pa kami sa kabayanan."
With many of them sharing electricity access from a single source, fisherman Felino said it would be impossible to know how much electricity each neighbor is consuming. "Kapag may kasosyo na hindi nagtitipid tapos ikaw nagtitipid, ang bayad lumalaki pa rin," he lamented, sharing that their bill reached P300 a month just for a minimal use of an electric fan and lights in the evening especially when preparing their nets for a day of fishing.
The Fajardos also felt discouraged to apply when they got scammed by a so-called “private electrician”, who took away a month’s worth of Felino’s earnings as a fisherman. So when Meralco visited their community and offered to help them through the Household Electrification Program, they applied to be part of the project. "Noong nag-alok ang Meralco, dumaan pa sa kapitan namin, nagtiwala na kami.”
Now, with their own meter, the couple pays about P250 a month for electricity. Happy with the freedom to access power whenever they need it and with their savings, the couple plans to add more entertainment applicances at home.
During the community turnover event in the island, Barangay San Mateo Capt. Jimmy Gregorio expressed his gratefulness for Meralco and OMF’s efforts in their neighborhood—from helping the barangay clear the street from dangling wires to assisting low-income households to have their own electrical access—as these are crucial steps to realize the barangay’s dream to have all households have their own meters, despite the challenges faced to energize the area.
The Household Electrification Program was made possible by the efforts of Barangay San Mateo, led by Capt. Jimmy Gregorio (4th from left), the local government of Hagonoy represented by Mr. Jhong Crisostomo, Executive Assistant to Mayor Charo Sy-Alvarado (center, in black) and municipal councilors,, OMF, represented by Program Manager Michael J. Del Rosario (5th from right) and Meralco led by Alleni O. Pascual, Head of Meralco HMB North (6th from right), Noel Espiritu, Head of Meralco Plaridel Sector (3rd from right), Robert C. Capule, Manager of North DS Systems Analysis (1st from left), and Larry Lucian E. Lluisma, Head of Malolos Business Center (4th from right).
OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao highlighted the project’s impact, stating: "Our work in Barangay Pugad reminds us that reliable power should be available to everyone, regardless of distance or accessibility. By conquering the logistical, financial, and geographical barriers to serve this fishing community, we enabled productivity and opportunities for these families to have a better life. Our mission continues to make sure no one is left in the dark."
Since 2011, OMF through its Household Electrification Program energized more than 85,000 low-income households within the Meralco franchise area, enabling families to become more productive at home, boost their income, and contribute to the progress in their immediate communities.