BY: LISA MESIONA, KATRINA SANCHEZ, AND ONIN DEVELOS / ADDU INTERNS
THE DAVAO Light and Power Company (DLPC) signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Education XI, Department of Social Welfare and Development XI, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples XI on July 9.
The private-public partnership intends to provide solar kits to IP families under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program whose children are enrolled at Sitio Pegalongan Elementary School in Barangay Malamba, Marilog District.
“We want to give these families a suitable lighting system since they have none as of the moment,” Fermin Edillon, DLPC Reputation Enhancement Department head, said.
The sitio is situated far from the city proper, resulting in limited access to basic necessities for families such as electricity. Students also only use kerosine lamps in their classrooms to aid them in their learning.
“Makapal kasi yung usok ng kerosene lamp… so, health-wise hindi siya healthy,” Edillon said.
He added roughly 20-30 solar kits will be distributed to qualified recipients for this pilot project.
“To maximize also the available resources, that’s why we’re just considering a total of 30 households,” Margie Cabido, 4Ps management division XI chief, said.
Rojay Pendio, Pegalongan Elementary School principal, said the lack of electricity in their community hindered students’ education.
“Karon man gud naa na man ta sa 21st century, which is naga-gamit na gyud ta ug mga gadgets nya kami didto, mga bata, maghulat lang gyud na sila ug unsay ihatag sa mga teachers so meaning, kung wala mi, wala gud pud sila,” he said.
Councilor Louie Bonguyan said there are ongoing meetings with other councilors specifically in District 2 to identify sitios or barangays that need electrification.
“Maybe in a month or two naa mi meetings with the punong barangay of Paquibato District na i-update nila ang city and also the LPC for the newly created sitios. When it comes to the sitio electrification program, we work hand in hand with the LPC kay kami man ang mag recommend kung kinsa sa atong mga sitios na kinahanglan gud i-energize,” he said.
Development of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI regional director Atty. Vanessa Goc-Ong said they are willing to share their instrument called the “Social Welfare Development Indicator,” a database on the number of people living without electricity, kerosene lamps, people living with alternatives, and people with access to electricity.
She said DSWD has the data for the towns of Sto. Tomas, Panabo, and Carmen.
Davao Light and Power Co. president Rodger Velasco said they have other plans to electrify off-grid areas in the region through solar equipment.
“There are places part of the Sitio Electrification Program that we cannot serve via the grid so an option would be solar. Solar kits, solar lanterns, and other sources of energy outside the grid. There will be more to come sa mga areas na we cannot serve with the grid because of the challenges sa access.” Velasco said.
