US-funded AMORE electrification projects energize 5,000 homes in ARMM

text & photos HADER GLANG

National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Zamzamin Ampatuan (2nd from right) and Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy Chief Tetchie Capellan (center) sign a memorandum of agreement for the construction of potable water projects in AMORE electrified barangays in Mindanao and witness by US Senator Daniel Inouye (right), United States Assistance for International Development Mission Director Jon Lindborg and a top official from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Thousands of remote households in the conflict-affected communities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have now electricity through the solar energy and micro-hydro power systems.

Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Chief Theresa Capellan announced the electrification of more than 5,000 homes in 185 barangays in the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The USAID spent $20 million and $4 million were added by Mirant Philippines for the renewable energy systems, which AMORE installed in 74 barangays in Tawi-Tawi with 2,220 household-beneficiaries; 25 in Sulu with 750 household-beneficiaries; 29 in Basilan benefiting 870 households; and 65 barangays in Maguindanao benefiting 1,670 households.

“We feel privileged to be part of your lives, and we remain committed to electrify some 6,000 more households in 189 additional villages in Mindanao, until September 2009,” Capellan told beneficiaries in a ceremony in Zamboanga City last Aug. 12 presided over by US Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.

The Philippine Department of Energy reported that more than half of all un-electrified villages in the country are in Mindanao. Of these, about 70 percent are located in the
ARMM, where men and women have grown old dreaming that their villages would one day be electrified.

“Now, the people are braved to go out at night…eat in the bright…gone are the days when children often cough violently from the fumes of the kerosene lamps they used to study at night,” said Capellan.

More electrification projects to come. Senator Inouye and Mirant Philippines Foundation announced that AMORE is set to electrify an additional 4,500 households in the ARMM with solar energy using joint funding from USAID and Mirant.

Inouye said the US government and its people are committed to provide assistance to the Philippines, especially in Mindanao in which all of the aid that the Americans provide to the Philippines, 60 percent is being spent in Mindanao.

“This project is what we wanted for the people of the world…we wanted to have light so children can study well…to have lights so our men and women can see can live a good life…this is what this project is all about…is a project of hope…we will have more miracles like this in the years to come.”

National Anti Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Zamzamin Ampatuan said the electrification projects serve indirectly the practice of Islam and would definitely result to higher things in life of all Muslims in the areas.

“The assistance the US is delivering to Mindanao definitely has benefited our people in many ways fulfilling not only material needs but their need for spiritual fulfillment as well,” Ampatuan said as he urged the Muslims in Mindanao to include in their prayers to make the US victories in its war against terrorism and the campaign for global peace.

He signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with AMORE for the allocation of P40 million to be used in the construction of solar-powered drinking water pumping systems in a number of AMORE electrified villages, in support of President Arroyo’s thrust to provide both electricity and water to all villages in the country by 2008.

Capellan said, “These renewable energy systems and solar power potable water systems will contribute to alleviating poverty especially in the ARMM, the poorest region in our country.”

She said it is up now to the Barangay Renewable Energy and Community Development Associations and Local Government Units to work together to sustain and expand the systems so that the government could move closer to its goal of achieving 90 percent household electrification by 2017.

Muslim leaders applaud AMORE, which composed of the USAID, MIRANT Philippines and Winrock International, for continuously providing the people in the remote barangays with one of the basic necessity such as electricity.

ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan said: “We are appreciative that this electrification project of AMORE, along with many beneficial projects supported by USAID, are geared towards the enhancement of the living conditions of our people, especially in the conflict-affected areas.”

He also called for the strengthening of the spirit of cooperativism among its stakeholders, the BRECDA, so they can continue to manage and maintain properly these lighting projects.

“I assure everyone that the implementation of this project shall always be in accordance to my policy of good governance, transparency and accountability, all of which are the pillars of my administration,” the ARMM governor said.

Sulu Governor Benjamin Loong said he joined the AMORE’s BRECDA in thanking the American people and Mirant who have assisted his administration in jumpstarting peace and development in their communities.

“The lives of the people of Sulu have been lighted up and given hope through this most valued partnership. We celebrate a partnership that has helped 227 poor communities all over Mindanao who thought that their communities would never see light through the darkness,” Loong added.

For his part, Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali thanked the American people for the renewable energy systems, which AMORE installed in at least 70 barangays in his province benefiting thousands of poor people.

“I believe this is not the end of the AMORE projects…there will be more to come so that the remote island municipalities in the province by year 2007 will be finally lighted,” Sahali said.

AMORE, which was launched four years ago, is considered a highly successful program for rural electrification because of its intensive social preparation, strong community organizing, capacity building initiatives for local associations, and creative financing schemes.

As of July 2006, some 6,850 households, 143 community centers and 319 streets in 227 barangays in Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Sulu, Maguindanao, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga City, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao electrified with renewable energy (RE) systems (224 barangays with photovoltaic systems and three with microhydro power). (ZS)