The Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative Incorporated (Zamcelco) has successfully installed 1,212 new electrical connections for indigent households as part of its ongoing initiative to expand access to electricity and bring essential power services closer to underserved communities.
The new connections were installed from the last quarter of 2025 through the first quarter of 2026 under the ZAMCELConnect One-Stop-Shop program. In a statement released Wednesday, May 12, Zamcelco highlighted that the program underscores the cooperative's commitment to accessible, efficient, and people-centered service delivery, supporting families in gaining access to essential electrical services.
The program was launched in the last quarter of 2025, offering free application services to all qualified indigent families. This initiative also reflects the continued support and efforts of National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda in advancing programs that strengthen and improve electricity accessibility and cooperative services through Zamcelco.
Lawyer Rommel Agan, Zamcelco chief management officer, stated that the team is actively working on identifying additional indigent household beneficiaries for the next One-Stop-Shop program rollout. "The upcoming initiative will further strengthen accessibility and inclusivity in electrification services, allowing more families to benefit from electricity connections," Agan added.
Engineer Floyd Eric Bautista, Zamcelco acting general manager, expressed optimism that with the continuing initiative, fewer residents will resort to illegal connections, as more families now have the opportunity to apply for legal electricity services with waived application fees. Bautista reminded the public that electricity pilferage is a crime and encouraged those still illegally connected to take advantage of the ZAMCELConnect program and apply for a legal electricity connection.
