BANGUED, Abra,Tuesday  March 15  – Governor Eustaquio P. Bersamin, endorsed two major projects of the Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO) for funding in order to energize the off-grid areas in the province.

These are the revival of the mini-hydro project in Daguioman municipality which had long hibernated due to various reasons, and the energization of the 12 sitios/villages in the different far-flung areas in Abra.

The endorsements for the said proposed projects were made separately to the concerned agencies. The funding requests for the rehabilitation, reconstruction, and eventual operationalization of the mini-hydro power generation plant in Brgy. Ableg, Daguioman and was was addressed to the office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) through lawyer Russell A. Bragas, the provincial head.

Said endorsement was made in support of the local people’s manifesto and supported by the local legislators through Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 1 series of 2011 and other related documents.

With the operation of the proposed mini-hydro project power generation plant, ABRECO will be spared from the high cost of electric power supply sourced from the National Grid Corporation.

The second project proposal was endorsed to the National Electrification Administration (NEA) through deputy administrator for Electric Distribution Utilities Services Edgardo R. Piamonte. The application specifically requested for a grant to ABRECO for the energization of several sitios in several barangays in the province that are still within the off-grid areas due to the vast resources required in the installation of extension lines.

General manager Loreto P. Seares Jr. expressed his gratefulness for the all-out support of Bersamin because it is the ultimate goal of ABRECO to pursue its rural electrification program to improve the service delivery system of the cooperative for the benefit of the rural people in the end.

Seares recognized the great help of the local leaders in attaining development most especially the chief executive of the province as he said, “Working hand-in-hand with the provincial government will surely benefit the people of Abra. Together we will make the difference and harmony will give us strength.” *(PIA CAR/Abra)