SOLARES Conducts Courtesy Calls in MLGUs Kalamansig & Lebak, Sultan Kudarat

SOLARES project officers headed to Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat at 3:00 A.M. on March 19, 2019 to meet and discuss with Kalamansig mayor Hon. Ronan Eugene Garcia at 10:00 A.M. Meeting agenda was the introduction of the SOLARES Project to Hon. Garcia including the project framework and the target beneficiaries, which included three barangays and tentatively 1020 target households within Kalamansig.

Hon. Garcia raised his concerns with the project’s specific recipients. There are GIDAs or Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas in Kalamansig. These communities do not use any lighting at all during nighttime. Furthermore, these communities may not be capable of paying the monthly fee. The team clarified that the payment was for the project’s sustainability and maintenance. There will also be an initial ODK profiling, to identify eligible recipients. It was agreed that the team will return along with a representative from SUKELCO to further discuss the viable target areas.

Brgy. Capt. Albaladeso asked if it would be possible for the barangay halls and schools to be SHS recipients as this would seem atypical for households being energized while barangays are not. Apparently, this shall be clarified with SUKELCO first since the intention of SOLARES is to become a part of the electrification program of  the electric cooperative.

In the afternoon, the team was scheduled to meet with LGU Lebak. with Lebak Administrative Officer Mr. Rusty Vilo. Mr. Vilo conveyed his support to the project and expressed his gratitude that Lebak was chosen as one of the target municipalities. He also shared about a previous solar-related project which awarded SHS units to certain communities after a one-time payment was uninformed the status of said project.

SOLARES Team Attends the SOLAR PV Mainstreaming Project Joint Meeting

The SOLARES project staff headed by Mr. Jobe C. Tubigon, Project Manager, participated in the Solar PV Mainstreaming Project Joint Meeting/Window 2 Design Workshop held at Socoteco II Seminar Hall in General Santos City on February 26, 2019. The purpose of the workshop was to review the Solar Home System (SHS) or Photovoltaic (PV) Mainstreaming Window I implementation experience in Mindanao and identify lessons learned to simplify and improve SHS Window II implementation. PV Mainstreaming is a Department of Energy (DoE) initiative, supported by the World Bank’s Access to Sustainable Energy in the Philippines (ASEP) Programme.

Electric Cooperatives (ECs) presented their Window I experiences on the preparation, procurement, marketing, installation & verification phases. The group were also able to brainstorm together and complement actions to improve its mechanics for Window II.  It was also an opportunity for Mahintana to harmonize the SHS technical design/specifications, the target areas and sustainability mechanisms of PVM with the SOLARES project.

World Bank Consultant Mr. Ian Driscall presented the Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification (RE4RE) system, a GIS platform developed to strengthen the impact of electrification projects fostering access to electrical services.

The attendees were key staff and officers from different Electric Coops (ECs) namely: SUKELCO, FIBECO, COTELCO, Socoteco II, DASURECO and BUSECO. Also present were representatives from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Yamog organization, National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF).

SOLARES Project Facilitates Meeting with EU Delegation, DoE and World Bank

Strengthening Off-grid Lighting with Appropriate Renewable Energy Solutions (SOLARES) Project, a 3-year EU-funded project in partnership with Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), facilitated the Coordination and Harmonization Meeting held at Hotel Esse, Davao City on February 21, 2019. Among the attendees were Ms. Carol Maningo from EU Delegation, Mr. Ian Driscall from World Bank, Mr. Douglas Liner from the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) and Ms. Shunie Pearl Palacios from PEF. Also present were representatives and management staff from the Department of Energy (DoE), MINDA, SUKELCO and SURECO. The meeting was an avenue for stakeholders to share solar-related project experiences on Solar-related projects, thresh out queries to better understand ongoing actions and for Mahintana to harmonize initiatives for the successful implementation of the SOLARES project.

SOLARES Project Manager Mr. Jobe C. Tubigon presented the target areas and beneficiaries, the project framework, the solar home system (SHS) design options, and the project implementation plan. Discussions included concerns such as the target areas’ accessibility, the SHS specification options, the livelihood programs, electrification, the procurement process, the installation of the solar load vending stations, and the sustainability of the project. With the inputs given by the group, Mahintana noted replicable existing systems and will consult EU for major amendments in the project concept.

EU Programme Officer Ms. Carol Maningo stated that the project may be overwhelming at the start, yet, it can be beneficial to Mahintana, and the partners, esp. the beneficiaries.

For the closing remarks, DoE Director Mr. Mario Marasigan encouraged everyone to work together for the total electrification of the off-grid in Region 12 and ARMM through the provision of Solar Home Systems.