“We are now out of the dark.”

Jabidi Talib, a member of the Barangay Renewable Energy and Community Development Association (BRECDA) of Barangay Lampinigan, Isabela, Basilan, is ecstatic. “We should be thankful to AMORE because we are now out of the dark,” he says. 

Being “out of the dark” signifies two things for Jabidi and his BRECDA, which is charged with operating, maintaining and using the renewable energy systems that AMORE has installed in his community for their long-term economic and social development: one, they now enjoy bright, safe, clean and reliable electric light in their homes; and two, they are now more confident and capable of pursuing not only their community’s all-out development, but even their own.  

“AMORE gives us a chance not only to have electricity, not only to develop our barangay, but also to develop personally…. Through our BRECDA, which AMORE helped establish, we are given opportunities for basic trainings on financial management, leadership, and skills development…. These skills, we can use to make our BRECDA stronger and more sustainable,” says Jabidi.

 Eventually, the chairman sees his barangay’s BRECDA as a cooperative, so that even after AMORE, it will continue to be a driving force in the development of the whole community.

Jabidi strongly encourages his members to take care of the systems, because “these are ours. We shouldn’t use these systems, even the batteries, for things other than their intended purpose, and that is to light up our homes.