US envoy lauds DOE for spearheading launch of ACCESS

US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney has lauded the Department of Energy (DOE) for spearheading the launch of Project ACCESS (Accelerating Community Electricity Services using Solar) which will further intensify efforts to bring electricity to remote areas in the country.

"What we are seeing is unique throughout the world," Kenney said.

Project ACCESS, Kenney said, features government, international organizations and the private sector in an extraordinary partnership to bring electricity to the remote areas.

"What electricity does is, it allows people to step out of poverty toward progress," she said, adding she is proud the United States is a participant in the project.

Kenney also lauded Atlanta-based Mirant’s initiative to serve as a good example of a company that makes a difference, not only to those who can afford its products, but also to those who could not.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla led the launching of Project ACCESS last week, joined in by Kenney and World Bank country director Joachim von Amsberg.

Project ACCESS is a new component of the Rural Power Project (RPP) that aims to provide power to barangays with no access to electricity. RPP is a DOE project funded by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) whose goal is the electrification of all barangays in the Philippines by 2008 and 90 percent of all Filipino households by 2017.

Mirant Philippines chairman and president Jose P. Leviste Jr. said his company remains a partner of government in rural electrification through its Project BEACON (Barangay Electrification Assistance for Countryside Development), which has energized 1,000 barangays and is committed to energize 500 more. Project BEACON, he said, is now a recognized rural electrification initiative; in addition, Mirant is involved in Project ACCESS, a pioneering and exciting activity that combines grant funding, microfinancing and subsidies.

For his part, Amsberg noted how rural electrification opens opportunities for rural people.

The WB official described Project ACCESS as an innovative approach linking photovoltaic technology with private business to bring electricity to the last isolated communities.

By harnessing the sun, Amsberg said Project ACCESS will mitigate pollution and promote energy security by reducing dependence on fuel oil.

Amsberg also recognized the support of private energy and microfinance institutions and non-government organizations involved, and said the World Bank is proud to be a part of it all.

"Our experience in the last 5-6 years has taught us that doing the job in collaboration with the private sector has allowed rural electrification to proceed at a much quicker pace," Lotilla said.

"Even as we proceed to bring power to the last 2,500 unenergized barangays, we need to face the problem of sustainability, which involves ensuring that the power system will provide sustained electricity once it is set up, "he added.

During the launching, two memoranda of agreement were signed to implement the first phase of Project ACCESS. One was between DOE, Mirant Philippines Foundation and Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. to energize 55 remote barangays in the provinces of Aklan, Masbate, Northern Samar and Palawan. Mirant has committed to donate P55 million to provide photovoltaic (PV) systems to public facilities and establishments in these barangays, Taytay will provide microfinancing for households to acquire PV systems, and DOE will provide a P5-million subsidy.

The second agreement signed was between Mirant Philippines Foundation and Project AMORE (Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy) to energize 148 barangays in Mindanao. DOE turned over a ceremonial check of P21 million to Project AMORE, symbolizing its support for energizing 21 of these barangays.

A third agreement to implement the first phase of Project ACCESS will soon be signed between DOE and Iligan Power and Light to bring electricity to two off-grid barangays in Iligan City.