By Ramil H. Bajo
ILOILO CITY — For many years, residents of Sitio Embang Mesa in Barangay Bagtic in Silay City found themselves in isolation, surrounded by vast sugarcane fields and far from main power lines. Their nights relied solely on candles and gas lamps, and many believed electricity would never reach their doors.
That all changed when Negros Power included the community in its “Sitio Electrification Program” in early 2025. Although the project posed challenges and expected to incur high costs due to uneven terrains and narrow farmland paths, the company was determined to bring light to the said isolated area.
(Note: Negros Power is a sister company of Ignite Power, a strategic partnership of Primelectric Holdings, Inc. of business tycoon Enrique Razon, Jr. and MP Holdings, Inc. of world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Ignite Power has submitted its joint venture proposal with South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, which conditionally accepted by the cooperative’s board of directors. As of press time, local reports indicate that no negotiations are currently happening between Ignite Power and SOCOTECO II after the board issued the “conditional acceptance” of the former’s proposal.)
Negros Power crews reportedly installed 32 concrete poles, nearly 3 kilometers of distribution wires, and 2 transformers, costing the company millions of pesos from the program’s budget.
On March 12, 2025, when the switch was finally turned on, cheers echoed through the community of 120 households, elders teared up as children ran from house to house, amazed by bright bulbs glowing in every home.
During the switch-on ceremony, Negros Power President & CEO Roel Z. Castro reportedly made a special commitment to residents: if they maintained good standing, paid on time, and recorded zero disconnections for one full year, the company would return with a“special reward” during their barangay fiesta.
The community embraced the challenge wholeheartedly. Residents helped one another understand their bills, coordinated payment collections, and ensured no household fell behind. Month after month, service remained steady — not a single home was disconnected.
True to its word, Negros Power returned on May 8, 2026, during the community’s annual fiesta. The company presented a cash incentive, joined in the celebrations, and officially named Hda. Embang Mesa a model community for cooperation and responsible energy use.
In a statement sent to The INFORMER on Thursday, May 14, the company quoted resident Joshua Arsenal expressing the community’s gratitude: “Dako guid ang amon pagpasalamat sa Negros Power kay gintuman guid nila ang ila saad (promisa) sa amon komunidad. Dako guid ini nga bulig sa amon.”
For many residents, the impact goes far beyond electricity. They say the lights brought progress, but the promise kept built lasting trust.
Today, Embang Mesa stands as one of the program’s success stories — proof that power, when paired with partnership, can transform lives.
Engr. Leomel H. Tambanillo, AVP for Planning, Business Operations and Sitio Electrification Program, and Negros Power Spokesperson, said the achievement highlights the value of unity, discipline, and cooperation among consumers.
“We are very happy to see that the residents of Embang Mesa valued this opportunity and worked together for one whole year without disconnections,” Engr. Tambanillo said, adding that, “This only proves that when the community cooperates, everyone benefits.”
He emphasized that Negros Power supports communities not just through electrification, but also by encouraging responsible energy use and building strong partnerships with consumers.
“This is more than just a cash prize. It symbolizes our appreciation to the people of Embang Mesa for their commitment and trust in Negros Power. We hope this inspires other communities as well,”he added.
Since launching the Sitio Electrification Program, Negros Power reportedly has already brought electricity to 41 sitios across Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Bago, Murcia, and Don Salvador Benedicto, benefiting 2,061 households with total investments exceeding P42 million. (Source: Negros Power reports)
But for Negros Power, it is just the beginning because the company’s “roadmap” aims to connect hundreds more communities and thousands of additional households in the coming years.
We are not just installing poles or running wires,”Castro said. “We are connecting people to opportunities — better education, safer homes, stronger livelihoods, and a brighter future. Every light we turn on is a promise kept: that no community, no matter how small or far, will be left in the dark.”
For the families of Embang Mesa and countless others across the region, electricity means more than just power — it marks the end of waiting, the start of realizing dreams, and a clear message that in Negros, progress reaches every corner, and light shines for everyone. #
Photo courtesy of Jhay Mahilum