Micro-hydro power plant sparks hope in southern Philippines

Renewable Energy brings light to war-torn village in Shariff Kabunsuan, and sparks hope for peace. Shown in the photo are AMORE chief of party Techie Cruz-Capellan, Shariff Kabunsuan Acting Gov. Ibrahim Ibay, USAID-Philippines Deputy chief for energy and environment Aurelia Micko and DOE Undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan during the cleansing ceremonies of the AMORE- implemented 35-kw power plant in the town of Buldon.

The government's thrust to reduce the country's dependence on imported oil and relieve Filipinos from price fluctuations in the global market got a big boost with the construction of the 35-kw micro-hydro power plant in Buldon town in Shariff Kabunsuan province.

The Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program, a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Department of Energy, has frequently stressed the importance of harnessing the earth's sustainable natural resources in dealing with electricity problem and the global climate change.

With the funds, amounting to Php7.4 million, the 35 kW micro-hydro power facility tapping the Kumaguingking river, households can use CFL light bulbs at night so that students can study and housewives can perform chores without inhaling toxic fumes from kerosene lamps. The micro-hydro facility also aims to open livelihood opportunities for the villagers and deepen the Muslim faith.

Department of Energy Undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan was assisted in the switch-on ceremony of the micro-hydro power facility by Aurelia Micko, USAID-Philippines Deputy chief for energy and environment, AMORE chief of party Techie Cruz-Capellan and Shariff Kabunsuan acting Governor Ibrahim Ibay.

The USAID and the DOE jointly funded the construction of three micro-hydro power projects in four off-grid villages in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, including Karim and Minabay in Buldon. The Philippine government has acknowledged developing clean energy source is vital for security and environmental reasons.

"Global warming is an escalating threat and its effects will worsen if damaging carbon emissions are not curbed. And, with oil hovering around $100 a barrel, there is even greater force for oil-dependent countries such as the Philippines to go green," Ampatuan said.

With the passing of the Renewable Energy Act in the Senate bicameral committee, the Philippines can save over US$3 billion (Php200 billion) that would come from the country's renewable energy sources such as solar and run-of-river hydropower. In passing this landmark legislation which aims to reduce the country's reliance on imported oil, the Philippine government has just paved the way for the country's drive towards energy independence and low-carbon growth, a milestone for Asia's efforts in curbing global warming.

Lamp of the past. Today, with the gift of light, villagers in Brgy. Karim and Minabay are alive, including the great-grandchildren of the late Songcaran Dimasindil, who waited for electricity for decades.

For the past decades, the rushing gray-green waters of the Kumaguingking river has gone untapped. Unknown to people that through modern technology, that same river could generate electricity for about a thousand homes. And for many generations in Buldon, local Iranuns in the villages of Karim and Minabay had literally groped in the dark, relying mostly on kerosene, candles and batteries for their light. The two villages are just two of the country's few remaining off-grid villages whose connection to the power lines is generally deemed inefficient or uneconomical by commercial providers or electric cooperatives.

According to AMORE chief Tetchi Cruz-Capellan, "micro-hydro energy system is an established technology and a realistic way to bring energy to remote mountain villages near mountain streams and rivers. It is easy to install and operate, and is cheap and sustainable. With the renewable energy law in place, more rivers can be tapped to help poor families in remote villages have access to light."

When the equipment was finally in place, the rushing waters of Kumaguingking River provided Karim and Minabay with a reliable source of renewable power.  Now, the facility is up and running and it's a carbon-free source of power.

Mainly designed for lighting only, the micro-hydro power facility will enable each household to avail itself of a maximum of 81,637kWh annually. Today, lavish appliances such as refrigerators, washing machine, colored television sets, computer games and electric ovens abound in the two villages. Residents in both Karim and Minabay can now end their isolation with their river-powered electricity in place.