SOLARES Demonstration to Partner Micro-finance Institutions and Courtesy Calls

The team then headed off to Maitum, Sarangani for another meeting with the PAMULCO (Pangi Multi-Purpose Cooperative). The team was able to meet and discuss with PAMULCO General Manger, Ronald Briones, the electrification and livelihood components of the SOLARES Project.

The SOLARES Project Team, together with Shunie Pearl Palacaios, PEF Area Officer headed off to Maasim, Sarangani for a meeting with Sta. Cruz MPC on May 27. Miss Palacios proceeded with her presentation, which included the background of their organization, how it began, its assets, their banner crops, their mode of support and the interest rates.

On May 28, 2019, the team attended a meeting at Lebak, Sultan Kudarat with the General Manager and Board Members of Bacbacan MPC. Ms. Palacios proceeded with her presentation of PEF and its background including the livelihood mechanism of the SOLARES Project. She also explained that PEF does not limit their support to their banner crops, 4Cs (cacao, coconut, coffee and cane sugar) and that they will support other crops given that it is the major source of income of the farmers operating with the cooperative’s area. The meeting went smoothly and it was agreed that more intricate concerns/matters will be discussed on the 31st together with other partner MFIs within SOLARES project area.

In the afternoon of the same day, the team went to Lebak MPDO to ask for updates regarding the CBMS CSV file acquisition request. The team then also went to Kalamansig MPDO for the same agenda it had with the Lebak MPDO.

On May 29, the team went to Kiamba, Sarangani for a meeting with KIMEMCO Chair and Board Members. Miss Palacios reiterated that the project will observe the 60,000 euro limit to partner MFIs as it was the only viable option as of the moment as per EU’s response. Miss Palacios’ presentation (livelihood) was followed with a presentation from Engr. Tayactac regarding the electrification component of the project.

The team then headed off to Maitum, Sarangani for another meeting with the PAMULCO (Pangi Multi-Purpose Cooperative). The team was able to meet and discuss with PAMULCO General Manger, Ronald Briones, the electrification and livelihood components of the SOLARES Project.

SOLARES Project Orientation, MOA/MOU Signing, Inception/Planning Workshop

As part of the preparatory activities and to ensure common understanding and commitment from project partners and beneficiaries, the EU-funded SOLARES project conducted a Project Orientation and MOA/MOU Signing on May 30, 2019 held at Avior Hotel, Santiago Blvd., General Santos City. The event was graced by key actors in the energy sector (Dole Philippines, Inc., Peace and Equity Foundation, Inc., SUKELCO, SOCOTECO II) and the Microfinance Institutions (PAMULCO, KIMEMCO, KPS-Seed MFI, Sta. Cruz MPC, Bacbacan MPC). Over 100 participants were present including Brgy. Captains and top officials from partner LGUs and Brgys. in Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani areas.

The activity was an avenue to update the project partners/beneficiaries on the status/progress of the project especially on some changes of the project proposal and budget (i.e. change in SHS technical design/specs, project sites, implementation arrangements, etc.).  The program preliminaries included the project overview presentation delivered by the SOLARES Project Manager Mr. Jobe C. Tubigon and messages of support from key stakeholders and partners. Governor Steve Chlongbian-Solon of Sarangani Province also graced the event and verbalized his commitment and support for the implementation of the project.

The ceremonious signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)/Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) followed afterwards which aims to gain/secure commitment from project partners and to ensure effective and sustainable implementation of the project. The signatories were Dolefil’s VP & Managing Director Mr. Randy Fleming, PEF Executive Director Mr. Robert Calingo, Mahintana President & CEO Mr. Martiniano Magdolot, SUKELCO BOD President Mr. David Batayola & SOCOTECO II BOD President Mr. Jose Santos. This intimate gathering ended with a brief networking and socialization among the guests and participants.

The Project Orientation also consist of a 2-day Project Inception/Planning Workshop on May 30-31, 2019, held right after the MOA/MOU Signing event. The workshop brought together the SOLARES project management/implementation team from Mahintana and PEF together with five (5) Microfinance Institutions represented by their Chairperson, Manager and Bookkeeper/Finance Officer and ECs SUKELCO and SOCOTECO II to further discuss about the project deliverables and expected outcomes.

More specifically, the workshop provided an opportunity for all potential partners to review & assess project timelines of the planned activities, especially on the technical design, implementation arrangements and strategies on SHS eletrification and livelihood components and to develop an action plan for the key activities.

SOLARES ODK Profiling of Potential Target Households in Maasim, Sarangani

As part of the EU-funded SOLARES project’s social preparation, a survey/profiling for each of the 5,000 off-grid households in 50 target barangays shall be conducted to validate and establish the individual socio-economic profile, the willingness to participate in the project, and capacity to pay of the potential household beneficiaries. The survey results will serve as baselines to measure future project impact at the household/community level and to help determine/map out the actual location/coordinates of the potential household beneficiaries.

On May 2-14, 2019, the SOLARES project team conducted the ODK profiling in its target benefeciaries in 11 Brgys. in Maasim, Sarangani Province namely: (a) Kablacan; (b) Bales; (c) Lumasal; (d) Amsipit; (e) Kamanga; (f) Daliao; (g) Kanalo; (h) Pananag; (I) Lumatil; (j) Colon; and (k) Nomoh.

Prior the actual profiling, the project team together with nine (9) enumerators conduct Brgy. Courtesy Calls to the Sitio/Purok Leaders to inform them of the purpose of the activity & to allow the team to conduct profiling. Every enumerator received an umbrella and powerbank which they can use as they will be profiling scattered or distant households using android tablets.

The enumerators were residents in Maasim, Sarangani and were all familiar with the local conditions, the people, and cultural sensitivities of the target areas. For 13 consecutive days, they were able to endure the scorching heat and trekked arduous areas, typically on foot & motorcycle and profiled a total of 733 households. Please refer to the details below for the total number of households profiled per Barangay.

Barangays Total # of Households Profiled

Kablcan 144

Bales 127

Lumasal 119

Amsipit 78

Kamanga 71

Daliao 51

Kanalo 26

Pananag 23

Lumatil 16

Colon 1

Nomoh 77

TOTAL 733