Sunday, October 21, 2007 Sun power to light 100 more Mindanao villages
BULDON, Shariff Kabunsuan -- Ravaged by the 2000 all-out war declared by then President Joseph Estrada, at least 80 villagers here have been rewarded with solar panel systems of a United States-funded program.
The program vowed to light 100 more villages until next year. Barangay Kulimpang forms part of Camp Abubakar, the main camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that fell into the hands of the government the same year.
Before and after the all-out war, residents in far-flung Kulimpang existed with their nights lighted mostly by kerosene lamps.
But in 2006, their lives improved when the Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy program gave them solar panel systems that allow the beneficiaries to now watch television programs of rival networks ABS-CBN and GMA-7.
"Our children can study better at night with these solar-powered systems. Also, I can do household chores at night," said Bai Dido Macatambog, who has been following GMA-7's evening telenovela "Marimar."
On Monday, Kulimpang residents and in about 400 villages in other parts of Mindanao simultaneously switch their lights for the second Lights Festival.
The activity coincided with the Muslims Lailatul Qadr (night of honor and dignity) observance, one of the holiest and blessed nights among Muslims occurring in one of the odd nights on the last 10 days of Ramadan.
The Islamic faithful believes that it was the night in which the first divine revelation came to Prophet Mohammad when he was in prayer in the cave of Hira.
The event aimed to foster awareness about the value of light to peace and progress in Mindanao.
In her message aired live over dxMS in Cotabato City , US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said the Amore project will extend to more beneficiaries in the Southern Philippines.
Kenney noted that at least 400 remote villages in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have been electrified since the United States launched the project five years ago.
"We hope to add light to a hundred more barangays. As light ushers enlightenment and blessings during Lailatul Qadar, the American people will continue to work with you to bring light to remote communities, to assure peace and development," Kenney said.
"I am so happy to see the light that comes to these communities, to see it provide livelihood opportunity for women, to see children be able to study longer at night, to see households more productive," she added.
Tetchi Cruz-Capellan, Amore chief of party, said more than rekindling the beneficiaries' hopes, the solar-generated electricity has lit up their passion for self-help and self-determination.
At least, 11,305 households in 396 villages scattered in the provinces of Armm have benefited from the project, she added.
Capellan said the electrification of 100 more villages would cost P100 million expected to be completed in December 2008, with the Department of Energy shouldering at least P30 million.
Early this year, Mirant Philippines released some P50 million to the project through Winrock International.
