Quezon Power, AMORE program provide power to Quezon island

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. (QPPL) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Alliance for Mindanao and Multi-regional Renewable/Rural Energy Development (AMORE3) program, have teamed up to provide power to Cagbalete Island in Quezon province through the use of solar photovoltaic system.

The project proponents said this marks the first time the island will have a constant supply of electricity.

The AMORE program is a rural electrification program that energizes remote, off-grid communities in Mindanao using stand-alone renewable energy systems such as solar photovoltaic and microhydro technologies.

The program is a rural electrification alliance between the USAID, Philippine Department of Energy, SunPower Foundation and Winrock International.

Since 2002, the program has provided energy to over 13,000 households in 474 remote, off-grid and mostly conflict-affected barangays across Mindanao.

Also in 2002, more than 44,000 students in over 200 rural schools all over Mindanao had been given access to distance education facility powered by solar photovoltaic modules by SunPower.

QPPL, on the other hand, is a 460-megawatt coal-fired generating facility located in Mauban, Quezon. It is committed to protect the environment and to this end has employed environmental technologies that ensure plant emissions are at a safe level.

An energy company that is committed not only to provide electricity but also to improve the quality of life in communities it operates in, QPPL implements projects focused on education and environment protection, conservation and awareness, among others.

Situated along the waters of Lamon Bay and the Pacific Ocean, Cagbalete Island at the eastern part of Quezon province, is home to two of 12 villages in the town of Mauban that are still without access to electricity.

Last Jan. 31, QPPL and the proponents of AMORE3 signed a partnership arrangement to provide solar power in the island.

QPPL runs a power plant in Mauban, located only a short distance from the island.

Through their joint efforts, the Cagbalete Island Elementary School – home to nearly 500 students – will soon have access to renewable energy that will be used to power up a DVD player and a television on which they will view educational programs that complement the Department of Education’s basic education curriculum.