Electrifying the countryside

There are people who view rural life romantically. They savor the idea of not having electric power. They cook with firewood, read over a gas lamp, have candle-lit dinners. No TV, no computers, no microwave ovens, no refrigerators. No hot showers, only baths in the river. No hot water for washing disease, only cold water drawn from a well. In short, life is simple, without frills.

But how long can these idyllic states last?

Not too long – we hope. We know that progress comes about with technological changes, and it starts with a light bulb shining at the door. With electricity, people and goods are made to move faster. One touch of the switch, and the refrigerator hums, preserving food for days; computers connect typists to the world outside, the TV and radio reveal the latest developments in the political, social, religious, economic and scientific landscape. Industrial machines whir and churn out products that are intended to make life better for people.

You can imagine how much progress there will be when the rural areas are electrified. Electrifying the rural areas is a major concern of the government. That is why providing energy in remote far-flung barangays is essential to lift them from conditions of poverty.

* * *

Although barangay electrification has been a government thrust for the past 30 years, previous initiatives have made slow progress, understandably, due to geographical and financial constraints.

This need has not escaped the attention of Mirant Philippines Corporation, which through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm, Mirant Philippines Foundation, launched early last year the Barangay Electrification Assistance for Countryside Development (Project Beacon). The project, undertaken at a cost of over P1 billion, and considered to be the largest initiative undertaken by a private institution in the country, aims to provide energy to 1,026 remote barangays in the country. To date, 900 barangays have been electrified, with the remaining sitios to be completed by the early part of this year.

Once completed, Project Beacon will provide electricity to 33 provinces and 44 cooperatives covering some 300,000 households nationwide.

* * *

Greggy Romualdez, Mirant external affairs manager, says Mirant recognizes that providing electricity to even the most remote barangays is "a means to help fight poverty as well as improve the quality of life of Filipinos".

"Access to electricity is a prerequisite to progress. By helping provide power to remote areas in the country we hope to bring development of these places," he says.

* * *

Beacon is being undertaken in cooperation with the Department of Energy, in support of its O-ilaw project – which aims for full national electrification by 2006 by the National Electrification Administrative (NEA) and various local electric cooperatives.

A sub-component of Beacon is the Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) which set up renewable energy facilities in 160 disadvantaged communities in the Mindanao area, particularly the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Greggy says that as the areas are too far to be connected to the main grid, they will rely on renewable energy sources such as solar power through facilities put up by Mirant. By providing electricity, Mirant can help spur the development of local economies that will create jobs and help government plant the seeds of development, he says.

* * *

One of the barangays electrified by Mirant is Barangay Penafrancia in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur. It had no source of electricity for as long as one can remember until Project Beacon found its way to the place. A fourth-class municipality bounded by the municipality of Tagkawayan, Quezon in the northwest; by Ragay Gulf, and on the southwest by the municipality of Ragay, Camarines Sur, this once-sleepy town is now reachable by road. As early as eight years ago, Del Gallego could only be reached by train, skids and by boat. And now that Barangay Penafrancia has electricity for its community, people expect more economic activities that were denied them all these years.

Mirant Philippines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mirant Corporation. It is the largest private producer of power in the country with a generating capacity of over 2,000 megawatts.

* * *

On another front, preparations for the Speaker Jose de Venecia Golf Tournament sponsored by the Center for the Promotion of Peace and Development of Mindanao at the Villamor Golf Course in Pasay City on January 17, are now in full gear.

The sports event is more than just a fund-raising activity for the benefit of CPPDM. It is an attempt to help promote better relations and understanding between and among the local and international communities in the country in focusing attention towards the expeditious attainment of a lasting peace and progress in Mindanao.

Speaker Jose de Venecia will lead the participants during the tee-off ceremonies which starts at 7:30 a.m. Initial list of participants includes the ambassadors of Canada and Korea. Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity Alumni director Manolet Ocampo confirmed the participation of Lito Alfiler, Rico Agcaoili, Lito Berinia, Cesar Guerzon, Rudy Fernandez, Beta Sigma Fraternity alumni luminary Sandiganbayan Justice Raoul Victorino is leading the members of Beta Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association in supporting more participation in the tournament; former Philippine National Bank president Archit Bartolome, Justice Silvestre Bello, and past president of Security Bank Peter Favila.

Prizes awaiting the winners of the tournament include airline tickets to Singapore and Hong Kong, appliances , and cute consumer goods. The partial list of donors includes Mirant Philippines Foundation, Asahi Glass Philippines, McDonald’s Philippines, Philippine Air Lines, Clark Development Corporation, Base Conversion Development Authority, DHL, Cebu Pacific Airlines, Trillo Wines, Natasha, Confetti, Enchanted Kingdom, Cravings.

The tournament is open to anybody who plays golf and who wishes to help promote the peace and progress of Mindanao. Registration can be made by calling or sending a fax at 671-5273 or 631-1466. The tournament fee is only P2,000, which includes the green fee, caddy fee and lunch.

* * *

My e-mail address: [email protected]