In his keynote speech, at the inauguration of the new headquarters of Nueva Ecija I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NEECO-1) in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija last August 30, Masongsong said that while rural electrification has allowed more Filipinos to gain access to television and other forms of mass media for the past 49 years, he is hoping the public will watch more educational television shows such as news and livelihood shows.
“Sana nanonood tayo ng mga balita; nanonood tayo ng mga programang maghahatid ng kaalaman tungkol halimbawa sa pagnenegosyo dahilito ‘yung adhikain ng rural electrification,” the NEA administrator said.
“I hope the success of rural electrification continues. I hope it does not end with just watching teleseryes or with just entertainment. Rural electrification should lift our countrymen out of poverty.”
“Sana ang tagumpay ng rural electrification program ay magtuloy-tuloy. Sana hindi lang hanggang panonood ng teleserye o hanggang entertainment ang dala ng programang rural electrification. Sana maitawid natin (mula sa) kahirapan (ang) ating mga kababayan,” he added.
(I hope the success of rural electrification continues. I hope it does not end with just watching teleseryes or with just entertainment. Rural electrification should lift our countrymen out of poverty.)
A study released in March last year by Kantar Media, a global media intelligence firm, showed that television remains the top media platform choice of Filipinos in rural and urban areas despite the presence of social media and the internet.
“Time spent watching TV increased in the last two years to 3.7 hours from 3.4 hours. Primetime programs between 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. are the most watched,” according to Kantar Media’s 2016 survey from a base of 10,000 respondents.
Masongsong stressed that there are still about 12 million Filipinos nationwide who remain in poverty because of their lack of access to electricity. In the province of Nueva Ecija alone, approximately 24,968 households remain unenergized, he said.
To date, 94 percent or about 401,132 households out of the province’s 426,100 total potential connections are energized.
Meanwhile, Masongsong congratulated the Nueva Ecija power distribution utility for ensuring active stakeholder engagement in its affairs through the dedication of its new office building to the member-consumer-owners.
The NEA chief likewise told the NEECO-1 management led by general manager Bonifacio Patiag, his staff, and their Multisectoral Executive Council (MSEC) to keep working hard so they can sustain their growth.
“You cannot sit on your laurels. You have done so much. You have accomplished so much, but please do not be complacent. We still have a lot of things to do in order to realize the vision of rural electrification, which is rural development,” Masongsong said.
