AMORE inks partnership with ARMM Social Fund for remote communities’ development program

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Social Fund Project (ASFP) has inked an agreement with Winrock International for a comprehensive community development program in barangays energized under the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program. AMORE is a three-year rural electrification program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is being implemented in the ARMM, Western and Central Mindanao in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and Mirant Philippines.

In a ceremony held at the Heritage Hotel, DOE Undersecretary Cyril del Callar, ASFP Exec. Director Nazrullah Manzur and AMORE Chief of Party Rodrigo Cabrera signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of USAID Senior Technical Advisor Rosario Calderon and one of AMORE’s beneficiaries in Maguindanao, Alex Laguilayan. Laguilayan is also the Chairman of the AMORE-established Barangay Renewable Energy and Community Development Association (BRECDA) Federation in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, South Cotabato and Davao.

ASFP and AMORE, with DOE’s support and in coordination with concerned government agencies and other non-government organizations, shall initiate the identification and implementation of complementary projects in such sectoral areas as education, telecommunications, health services, and the like to bring about productive and sustainable energy utilization and development in the area.

ASFP may provide infrastructure and social development services under its Community Development Assistance (CDA) Program to recipient Sub-Project Approved Committee (SPAC)-approved barangays energized under the AMORE Program.  These infrastructure and social services may include the following: a) Provision of health facilities such as health centers and those that fall within the menu of the ASFP-CDA component; b) Construction of farm-to-market roads or barangay roads; c) Construction of school buildings and those that fall within the menu of the ASFP-CDA component; and d) Creation of livelihood opportunities for target participants – through the provision of either funding support or skills training program/s.

AMORE is electrifying at least 185 conflict-affected remote rural communities in Muslim Mindanao which cannot be connected to the existing power grid, with clean and sustainable renewable energy such as solar, micro-hydro, biomass and wind energy, to power micro-enterprise and social services development and thereby promote sustainable peace in the region and the rest of the country.

USAID funds are utilized for extensive community preparation and organizing activities to empower the beneficiaries not only through electrification but also through the enhancement of livelihood activities to sustain the operation and maintenance of the RE systems.

AMORE covers the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Sulu, Zamboanga Sibuguey, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and South Cotabato, and the cities of Zamboanga and Davao.