Lighting up Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani communities

THOUSANDS of off-grid households in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani are set to gain access to electricity, thanks to the 3,000 solar home system units coursed through South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II) under the Strengthening Off-grid Lighting with Appropriate Renewable Energy Solutions (Solares) project last April.

During the ceremonial turnover of the solar home units consisting of the system box, solar panel, and accessories (such as torch, radio, and bulbs), Martiniano Magdolot, Solares Project Director and Mahintana Foundation (MF) president, expressed his gratitude to the Sino Soar Hybrid (Beijing) Technology for supplying the units to Socoteco II, the Department of Energy, Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), and the European Union (EU) for funding and technical assistance.

In 2018, MF, PEF, EU, together with the electric cooperatives Socoteco II, and the Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative launched the Solares

project to increase energy access in off-grid areas through installation of solar home lighting systems and access to livelihood and financing opportunities to 6,000 off-grid rural households in the two provinces. The local governments of the two provinces will also provide technical assistance while local microfinance institutions (MFIs) will help finance livelihood projects of the communities.

Solares through the partner ECs is aiming to distribute and install the SHS units in the coming months.

Complementing the solar home systems component, PEF will provide livelihood opportunities to the communities in beneficiary areas.

“We have already released loans for the livelihood projects of the farming communities in the municipalities of Lebak, Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat, and Maasim, Maitum, and Kiamba, in Sarangani that will benefit more than 700 households,”PEF Area Officer Shunie Pearl Palacios said.