Enhancing electrification with loan assistance to Kaunlaran ng Samahang Hernandez Catmon HOA project

• Main Author: Omaña, Terteen Gail B.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2006
• Subjects: Electric power systems—Philippines—Malabon; Public works—Philippines—Malabon—Finance; Community development—Philippines—Malabon; Development Studies; Urban Studies and Planning
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/9418
• Institution: De La Salle University

PBSP, through its Luzon Regional Operations, is currently implementing the Strategic Private Sector Partnerships for Urban Poverty Reduction (STEP UP), an expansion of the foundation's integrated and poverty-focused Area Resource Management program in the National Capi,tal Region. STEP-UP is being implemented in 23 urban poor communities in 8 cities in Metro Manila to improve the living conditions of 5,823 urban poor households. The program has five major components, namely: (1) partnership building, (2) revolving fund for livelihood, (3) housing loan assistance, (4) community infrastructure; and (5) risk reduction and management. In Barangay Catmon, the program adopted five (5) communities with a total of 661 households. One of the communities is that of the Kaunlaran ng Samahang Hernandez Catmon Homeowners Association (KSHC HOA). It acquired the land last year through the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) of NHMFC. Consistent with the program's risk reaction and basic services improvement components, PBSP approved in March 2004 a grant for the construction of fuse centers and private posts in March 2004. Currently, PBSP has been collaborating with Meralco and the Malabon Electrical Engineering Department for legal connections to more than 600 households in Catmon. To date, seven (7) fuse centers have been constructed and the remaining four (4) fuse centers will soon be constructed after Meralco has installed the main posts. The KSHC HOA will provide volunteers and skilled workers in the construction of concrete posts to carry the load side wires. About 90% of household in the area does not have electricity for more than 4 years. Some families resort to sharing of electrical connections leading to power breakdown and fire accidents. Hence, under the risk reduction component of the STEP UP program PBSP has approved a grant for the construction of fuse centers and private posts in March 2004. Currently, PBSP has been collaborating with MERALCO and the Malabon Electrical Engineering Department for legal connections of more than 600 households in Catmon. To date there were seven (7) fuse centers constructed and the remaining four (4) fuse centers will be constructed in a few months after MERALCO has installed their main posts. However the association cannot afford to buy the load side wires in full, thus the need to access loan for electrification would help them complete the process.