Zambo residents hail electrification proj

MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of residents in two barangays of Zamboanga City cheered as switch-on ceremonies heralded the much-anticipated arrival of electric power in their communities where victims of the Zamboanga siege have been sheltered by the city government since last year. 

Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar led city officials in the inauguration of the project during twin events held in Barangay Taluksangay and Barangay Tulungatung.  They were joined by key executives of the project partners, namely Western Mindanao Power Corp. (WMPC) and San Ramon Power Inc. (SRPI) of the Alsons Power Group, Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) and officials of the two host barangays.

Barangay Taluksangay is the temporary home of around 240 evacuee families while Barangay Tulungatung hosts about 576 evacuee households.  These internal refugee families belong to the Badjao, Samal, and Tausug ethnic communities.

Climaco expressed her gratitude to the Alsons Power Group for funding, planning and overseeing the implementation of the electrification project that will benefit thousands of evacuees whose lives are still far from normal.  The availability of electricity is expected to greatly improve living conditions in the transition sites.

 â€œWe would like to thank WMPC, San Ramon, Zamcelco and all our partners for this project.  Magtulong-tulong tayo.  Ipakita natin na kaya nating bumangon at tumayo para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak. (Let us help each other. Let’s show that we can rise up for the sake of our children’s future). Let’s build back a better Zamboanga,” Mayor Climaco said.

 Alsons Power supported the project by providing hardware such as distribution transformers and lines, galvanized steel poles and other accessories circuit meters, and extending the existing supply lines of Zamcelco. Engineers from Alsons Power subsidiaries SRPI and WMPC also supervised the project’s planning and implementation.