US Ambassador and DOE Secretary turnover rural electrification in Zamboanga del Sur; sign MOA

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes visited Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur last May 28 to check on the progress of various United States funded projects including renewable energy resources installed on the roofs of houses that are capable of producing enough electricity to power homes.

With the installation of solar home systems in the off-grid village of Langilan, San Miguel in Zamboanga del Sur, has changed the lives of hundreds of families for the better.  As solar panels are seen on almost every rooftops in Langilan, families have been given opportunities for additional sources of income as their children can also study at night and the whole community can bond together through activities such as karaoke singing. Just two years ago, villagers had never seen light after dark, unless it came from the moon.

In Zamboanga del Sur, the Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) 2 program began its work in 2005.  Through 2006, it energized a total of 19 villages with 570 households benefiting from 50-watt solar home systems (SHS). These barangays are located in the towns of  Dinas, Dumingang, Midsalip, Suminot, Kumalarang, San Miguel, Tukuran, and Tigbao. In addition, another 12 villages were energized by the AMORE program in March 2007  under the World Bank and Global Environment Facility (GEF)-supported Rural Power Project. Two towns were included, namely Mahayag, and Lapuyan, and household electrification in the barangays is implemented using a lending scheme provided by on-site micro-finance institution in partnership with an private energy service provider. 

Today, a total of 31 villages of Zamboanga del Sur are enjoying the benefits of home lighting as well as on their communal facilities such as barangay halls, schools, and the streets. With DOE financial support as well as US assistance, residents now speak of a sense of security at night because of the streetlights; stronger community bonding because of the lit-barangay halls during their evening community gatherings; and improved school performance because of the solar-powered E-media program.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of agreement was signed between AMORE, DOE and Paglaum Multi-purpose Cooperative aimed at giving barangays in the Zamboanga peninsula access to an affordable financing program for the commercialization of their SHS.

The DOE through its Rural Power Project, had previously entered into an agreement with Winrock International in December 2005 for the implementation of the department's Expanded Rural Electrification Program in 21 barangays in the Zamboanga peninsula. With funding support from the department's Sustainable Solar Market Package (SSMP), Winrock completed the installation of the communal electrification systems in these barangays. The SSMP approach encourages the participation of the private sector in the commercialization of SHS.

All parties see that electricity offers real opportunity for lasting peace for the people in remote off-grid villages in Zamboanga peninsula. The Paglaum, a Microfinance Institution (MFI) in Western Mindanao with strong commitment to social progress and community development by providing access to financing program believes that electricity will spur economic growth in rural areas.

 Winrock International is a non-profit organization that implements the AMORE Program, an offshoot of a cooperative agreement among Winrock, the USAID and Mirant Philippines Foundation. It will assist PaglauM in establishing linkages with government and other funding programs on renewable energy to assist them in providing more access to affordable financing packages. On the other hand, Paglaum will develop and package a financing scheme for the commercialization of the photovoltaic systems in the barangays.

1. US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and USAID Mission Director Jon Lindborg were given a rousing tribute May 29, 2008 by hundred of villagers in Langilan, San Miguel, a laid-back corn-producing village. Children lined roads, yelling and waving US and Philippines falgs as Kenney and Lindborg passed by.  Kenney is seen in the picture shaking the hands of well-wishers and giving them high-fives. She later turned over rural electrification projects in 31 villages in Zamboanga del Sur, which villagers said will boost life against a backdrop of poverty.
2. US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Department of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, receive a presentation on solar power by AMORE chief of Party Tetchie Capellan during a turn over ceremony of AMORE’s rural electrification in Zamboanga del Sur May 29, 2008. The map shows the electrification of 30 households in the village of Langilan in San Miguel.
3. US Ambassador Kenney (left), Zamboanga del Sur Governor Aurora Cerilles (seated middle) and Department of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes talk with beneficiaries during the rural electrification project turn over in 31 barangays in Zamboanga del Sur May 29, 2008. Homeowners with solar power installed on their rooftops enumerate the many benefits  of energy from renewable resources.