Wednesday, August 15, 2018

A total of 595 households in remote 24 sitios or puroks in 10 barangays in the five cities and municipalities in the Third District of Negros Occidental have qualified as recipients of the home-based solar system, under the Department of Energy Household Electrification Program.

With the initiative of Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), the Department of Energy together with local government units and barangay leaders conducted a survey in far-flung areas of the District, especially reaching off-grid households, last year, a press release from Benitez’s office said.

On Monday, barangay captains of identified recipients of the program, and LGU officials, attended the orientation workshop in preparation for the second phase of the program implementation.

DOE senior research specialist and focal person for the Visayas, Lourdes Arciaga, led the briefing on the details of the HEP that is a component of the total electrification program of the national government, the press release said.

Pastor Cesar Gallarin, executive director of Friendship Builders Foundation, and program partner of DOE, led the orientation on the social preparation component and the organization of solar power associations.

Also present at the orientation were representatives of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, and program contractor Trade Master.

In the next two weeks, the DOE-led program team, assisted by the staff of Benitez, with the support of the LGUs and the barangays, will conduct social preparation activities to ensure program sustainability with the capability-building of the associations.

A component of the Expanded Rural Electrification Program, the HEP provides electricity for lighting, radio, MP3 player and phone charger to households in remote areas unreachable by power lines, using renewable energy systems such as the photovoltaic, solar home system, or micro-hydro system, the press release said.

DOE directly administers procurement until the installation of the off-grid power system, supports the social preparation and capacity building, and regular monitoring and technical assistance to beneficiaries, the press release said.

The Office of Benitez serves as the coordinating center to ensure smooth flow of synergy and convergence among all program participants, both government and non-government entities.

Barangays covered include Amayco, Canlandog, Minoyan, Salvacion, and Sta. Rosa in Murcia. Also reached are Barangay Katilingban in Talisay, Mambulac and Guimbalaon in Silay, Canlusong in EB Magalona, and Barangay 20 in Victorias, the press release said.

Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, who joined the orientation program, cited the benefits of the HEP and urged everyone to be vigilant so that the program will be sustained and more areas will eventually be reached, the press release added.*