Senate Convenes High-Level Meeting on Electrification and Digital Connectivity in Aklan and Antique

Pasay City- A high-level Meeting/Briefing on the current state of Electrification and Digital Connectivity in the provinces of Aklan and Antique was jointly convened May 28, 2026 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Senator Padilla Room, Senate of the Philippines, through the initiative of the Office of Loren B. Legarda and the Aklan Information and Technology Council (AICTeC), headed by its Executive Director, Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo.

The meeting gathered top management executives and key-decision makers from the power sector, national government agencies, telecommunication industry, local government units, and the business sector to address the growing challenges confronting electrification and digital connectivity in the provinces of Aklan and Antique. Among those invited to attend were representatives from the Department of Energy (DOE), National Electrifications Administration (NEA), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), PLDT, Smart,Globe, DITO, Converge, and Starlink. Also, attending the meeting were Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores (Aklan), Cong. Florencio Miraflores (2nd District, Aklan), Governor Paolo Javier (Antique); Atty. Reynaldo Quimpo (SP Member, Aklan), Atty. Ariel Gepty (General Manager, AKELCO), Neal Peter C. Venegas (General Manager, ANTECO), Cedric Sazon (President, PANTELCO), and Astrophel Tabanera(General Manager, PCTV Inc) representing the business sector in Aklan.

During the meeting, AICTeC Executive Director Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo presented the objectives of the meeting, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger collaboration among national government agencies, electric cooperatives, private power providers, telecommunication companies, and local government units to support the long-term development plan of both provinces.

The meeting specifically aimed to:

1.) Present the current development thrust and economic direction of the Provinces of Aklan and Antique.

2.) Brief concerned national government agencies, power sector stakeholders and TELCO Companies on the present state of electrification and digital connectivity in both provinces.

3.) Identify the operational, infrastructure. regulatory, and investment challenges confronting the power and digital connectivity sectors.

4.) Request strategic intervention and policy support from the national government and private sector partners to ensure sufficient, efficient, reliable, and sustainable power and digital connectivity services and,

5.) Align the strategic priorities and expansion plans of the power and TELCO sectors with the long-term economic and development plans of the provinces of Aklan and Antique.

The meeting underscored the critical importance of stable power supply and robust digital infrastructure as essential foundation for economic growth, tourism development, education, healthcare, investment promotion and inclusive countryside development in Western Visayas. Leaders from both provinces expressed optimism that through closer coordination with national agencies and private stakeholders. Aklan and Antique will be better positioned to accelerate economic progress and improve the quality of life of their constituents through enhanced access to reliable electrification and digital connectivity.