SOLARES, SOCOTECO II, and partners conduct Ceremonial Unloading of 3,000 SHS Units

With the arrival of solar home system units to SOLARES partner electric cooperatives, SOCOTECO II celebrated this event on Monday morning through a ceremonial unloading and acceptance together with SOLARES implementers, Mahintana Foundation, Inc. and Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) on April 19, 2021 at the SOCOTECO II Warehouse, Brgy. Apopong, General Santos City. Along with PEF, joining online were the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the Department of Energy (DOE), SOCOTECO II Board of Directors and staff, and Sino Soar Hybrid (Beijing) Technology Co,. Ltd. through Mr. Phoenix Zhang.

Mr. Martiniano L. Magdolot, president of Mahintana and project director of SOLARES, delivered the opening remarks by thanking European Union for the opportunity of implementing the project on renewable energy and sharing brief updates on the project and the active collaboration among multiple organizations for the SOLARES project. The Department of Energy gave their message of support through Mr. Marc Louie L. Olap, OIC, Rural Electrification Administration and Management Bureau; Ms. Alice de Guzman also expressed her support during the event. Mr. Zhang shared that it was a great honor to be participating in the event. He shared how from 2017, Sino Soar Hybrid (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. supplied the Philippines over 20,000 units and counting despite the difficulties faced during shipping amidst the pandemic. He hopes to continue contributing to bring more light to Mindanao and the whole country.

After the video presentation for the ceremonial unloading (as the units had arrived a few days before), SOCOTECO II through Mr. John Tindoy (SBU Coordinator) and Engr. Angelico Boiser (Area Engineer) facilitated the unboxing of the SHS package, showing functional components included in the box. In his message of acceptance, Mr. Geronimo D. Desesto, General Manager of SOCOTECO II recognized notable local and international dignitaries of the partnership in realizing SOLARES and their role of developing and supporting the renewable energy projects to remain relevant in the power sector.

Engr. Lowell Valiente (CPD), Mr. Fausto Tan, Jr., Mr. Magdolot, Mr. Desesto, Mr. Tubigon, and Ms. Liza D. Hora at the join inspection conducted by Mahintana Foundation, Inc. and SOCOTECO II.

Representing the Board of Directors of SOCOTECO II, vice president Fausto Y. Tan, Jr. delivered his message of acceptance, highlighting the impact of the SOLARES project to MAKIMA (Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum) areas in Sarangani. Mr. Jobe C. Tubigon, project manager of SOLARES thanked the participation of different partners during the event and their contribution to the implementation of the SOLARES project. He also shared to the group the next steps: distribution and installation of the SHS units to Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat areas.

SOLARES trains SOCOTECO II installers and verifiers for upcoming SHS-related activities

The project staff conducted a training on Open Data Kit or ODK-based distribution, installation, and verification in preparation for the upcoming next phase of the project with the arrival of the solar home system (SHS) units for MAKIMA in April. The purpose of the training is to replace the use of paper in conducting SHS unit distribution, installation, and verification, and for the participants to have general knowledge and information on ODK-based forms.

15 verifiers, 13 installers, and 5 distributors completed the 2-day training on March 23-24, 2021 at the Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City. Engr. Mohammad Alver Amanoddin and Engr. Jose Jerry Tayactac, project officers of SOLARES, facilitated the training. For Day 1, the project staff shared project updates regarding with the status of activities based on the project timeline, and formally conducted an ODK training. The team shared the general information on ODK and why it is important in project implementation. The prepared ODK-based forms were presented to the participants for their review and any questions and clarifications.

On Day 2, the team conducted a quick recap of Day 1 and a mock distribution, installation, and verification. SOCOTECO II SBUs brought 10 units of SHS and solar panels for the mock-up activity, and each installer to simulate installing and scanning the 10 units with corresponding correct bar codes of the battery and charge controller per system box. The group completed the mock-up within 4 hours (mock distribution to mock verification). Participants encountered minor problems: (1) mobile phones which took too long to recognize the bar code, (2) wrong recording of the numbers of the bar code, and (3) difficulty/errors when proceeding to the next page of the form.

For ease of bar code scanning, the bar codes must have a good light source. The team noticed if there is less light, the scan will record a different value. When provided with adequate light, the scan will be short and accurate. If the form will not proceed even with a correct bar code, the solution is to fill-up a new blank form.

After the mock-up activity, the team conducted an open forum for concerns, recommendations, and questions of the participants. Concerns included regarding the number of photos for the distribution form. With these, Engr. Amanoddin and Engr. Tayactac will be improving the form accordingly.

SOLARES conducts ODK Training to Bacbacan MPC

The SOLARES team through Engr. Dhan Jaycle Diolanto, project officer for Sultan Kudarat, conducted an Open Data Kit (ODK) Training for Bacbacan Multipurpose Cooperative (BMPC) at Lebak, Sultan Kudarat on February 23, 2021 as part of the project component on capacity building/technical assistance to partner cooperatives. Engr. Diolanto coordinated with BMPC regarding their need for knowledge on ODK forms for their loan applications, credit recommendation and approval, and membership applications. With this, the process of data gathering and management can be improved and made more efficient.

Engr. Diolanto (in black) with BMPC at the ODK Training