C. Mindanao b’gays energized with solar power

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao — A consortium of private companies, government agencies and foreign donors has started energizing 13 barangays here and in nearby Sultan Kudarat using solar power.

The project complements the Southern Mindanao peace process, which is centered on promoting sustainable development in war-torn areas.

The Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Energy (AMORE), United States Agency for International Development, Winrock International, Department of Energy, Mirant Philippines and the office of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Parouk Hussin have joined forces for the project.

They are now jointly putting up 50-watt solar power systems in each of the 13 barangays, whose residents are mostly marginalized farmers.

Enrique Gallardo, AMORE manager in the Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat-Davao area, said they will also set up two units of 75-watt solar streetlight systems in all of the recipient-communities.

Gallardo said the lighting systems are partly funded by Mirant Philippines, now one of the country’s key energy producers, under its "Project Beacon" which aims to provide an alternative source of power to off-grid barangays in developing towns across the country.

Of the 13 recipient-barangays, 10 are in Maguindanao’s adjoining towns of Buluan, Datu Paglas, S.K. Pendatun and Mamasapano. The rest are in Lutayan, a remote town in Sultan Kudarat.

Engineer Norie Unas, Maguindanao provincial administrator and spokesman of Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan, said they are ready to provide counterpart funding and manpower support to AMORE if it will expand to more towns in the province.

Unas said they have, in fact, included in their development blueprint for 2004-2005 the electrification of far-flung barangays still not covered by private or state-run power utilities.

In implementing the project, AMORE first organized Barangay Renewable Energy and Community Development Associations (BRECDAs) in the 13 barangays to ensure the support of residents for the project.

Gallardo said members of BRECDAs will raise their own funds and manage the power systems in their respective communities.

Last February, Hussin declared a regionwide observance of BRECDA Week as part of his administration’s efforts to encourage the public to cooperate in the government’s electrification thrusts in Maguindanao and other parts of the region.