By Nanette Guadalquiver August 14, 2018, 5:11 pm

BACOLOD CITY -- The Department of Energy (DOE) will supply solar electricity to 595 identified households in the remote villages of the Third District of Negros Occidental.

This was announced on Tuesday by the Office of Rep. Alfredo Benitez, which coordinates the implementation of the DOE project under the agency’s Household Electrification Program (HEP).

Pastor Cesar Gallarin, executive director of Friendship Builders Foundation, on Monday (August 13, 2018) discusses the importance of social preparation and capability-building as a component of the DOE-Household Electrification Program, with the officials of beneficiary-barangays and local government units in the Third District of Negros Occidental. (Contributed photo)

Third District covers the cities of Talisay, Silay Victorias and municipalities of E.B. Magalona and Murcia.

Households in 24 sitios or puroks (zone) in 10 villages will avail of the home-based solar power system.

These are located in barangays Amayco, Canlandog, Minoyan, Salvacion and Sta. Rosa in Murcia; Canlusong in E.B. Magalona; Mambulac and Guimbalaon in Silay City; Katilingban in Talisay City; and Barangay 20 in Victorias City.

The beneficiaries were identified after the DOE, together with local government and barangay officials, conducted a survey for off-grid households last year.

On Monday, DOE Senior Research Specialist Lourdes Arciaga, focal person for the Visayas, gave a briefing on the HEP, while Pastor Cesar Gallarin, executive director of Friendship Builders Foundation, a DOE program partner, discussed the social preparation component and the organization of solar power associations with the officials of beneficiary-barangays and local government units (LGUs).

The orientation-workshop, held at Nature’s Village hotel in Talisay City, was also attended by representatives of Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, and program contractor Trade Master.

The DOE-led program team assisted by the staff of Benitez will conduct social preparation activities for program sustainability and capability-building for the associations in the next two weeks.

The HEP is a component of the DOE’s Expanded Rural Electrification Program which 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. (PNA)