DOE to release funds for electrification of remote Mindanao barangays

Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla has signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the Department of Energy’s release this year of PhP21 million from its Barangay Electrification Program funds for the energization next year of at least 21 remote villages in Mindanao that cannot be connected to the power grid, mostly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the country’s least electrified region, with solar photovoltaic systems.

The funds will be released to the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program, a partnership of the DOE and the ARMM with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Mirant Philippines Foundation, and the non-profit organization, Winrock International, which is electrifying off-grid villages mostly in the ARMM with alternative renewable energy systems such as solar and microhydro, and capacitating the communities to operate and maintain the systems to maximize prospects for their sustainability.

With the DOE funds, AMORE will attempt to promote commercial electrification approaches in support of the DOE’s Rural Power Project.

Lotilla signed the MOA with AMORE Acting Chief of Party Chris Kopp and witnesses DOE Undersecretary Melinda Ocampo and Daniel Moore, Chief of USAID/Philippines' Office of Energy and Environment (OEE). Also present during the signing ceremony were AMORE Deputy Chief of Party Jim Orprecio and USAID/Philippines OEE’s Senior Technical Adviser Rosario Calderon and Cognizant Technical Officer Allan Mesina.

Since 2002, AMORE has electrified 227 off-grid, conflict-affected communities in Mindanao , predominantly in the ARMM, both with solar and microhydro power systems, and has organized and trained community associations in these barangays to operate and maintain the systems. These associations have already raised approximately PhP10.9 million in Operations and Maintenance funds and have established partnerships with other funding organizations to expand their development.