Ako Bicol Party-list has reported the turnover of Solar Home System units to an estimated 260 households in Rapu-Rapu--a long-neglected area in Albay.
Led by Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Zaldy Co, in partnership with the National Electrification Administration (NEA), Albay Electric Cooperative, and with the approval of President Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the state-funded solar electrification program was designed to being clean, sustainable, and reliable energy to the communities there.
“Sa proyektong ito, matatapos na ang paghihirap na nararamdaman ng mga kababayan natin at kadiliman sa kanilang lugar (With this project, we will put an end to the suffering of our countrymen as well as the darkness in their area),” said Co, who originally proposed the solar initiative during his term as House Committee on Appropriations chairman.
“The power of solar energy is changing lives. Hindi lang ito pagpapailaw sa kanilang mga tahanan, ito ay tungkol sa pagbibigay ng dignidad at pag-asa sa kanila na matagal na namumuhay sa dilim tuwing gabi (It’s not merely the electrification of their houses, rather its about giving them dignity and hope after years of living in darkness at night).”
For residents like Emy Rose Berba, a 23-year-old online teacher, and Loreta Bola, an 80-year-old lifelong island resident, the solar panels are more than just electricity—they are a symbol of change.
“Dati bumabyahe pa ako gamit ang maliit na bangka papuntang Tabaco City para lang makapagtrabaho as an online teacher (I used to travel to Tabaco City using a small boat just so I could work as an online teacher),” shared Berba.
“Ngayon, nakakapagtrabaho na ako dito sa bahay. Pwede na ako magtutor sa mga korean students ko nang hindi ko iniiwan ang pamilya ko (Now, I can work here in the house. I can tutor my Korean students without leaving my family).”
“Gasera lang ang nagbibigay liwanag sa amin dito (Our only source of light was a gas lamp),” Bola added.
“Ngayon, may solar na kami, hindi na namin kailangan mag gasera. Mas safe na kami at may pag-asa na rin na baka sa susunod, magkakaroon na rin ng linya ng kuryente talaga (Now, we have solar light, we no longer need the gas lamp. We are safer and we have hope that next time around we will have a power line already),” hse added.
Each household received a complete Solar Home System equipped with solar panels, four light bulbs, cell phone charging ports, a transistor radio, battery storage, and inverter.
The equipment and installation were provided free of charge. The beneficiaries only need to pay a minimal ₱7 daily maintenance fee.
“Out of the 12,000 solar units, 1,000 are allotted for Albay alone,” Co said. “Sisiguraduhin natin na kahit pa ang pinakaliblib na sitio ay magkakaroon ng kuryente ang kanilang bahay (We will make sure that even the remotest areas will have electricity in their houses).”
During the same turnover ceremony, 50 more households in Sitio Dinagsaan, Hacienda, San Miguel Island in Tabaco City also received their solar units.
“Ito ang paraan ng administrasyon na masolusyunan ang kawalan ng kuryente sa mga komunidad na nasa hiwalay na isla, tuktok ng bundok at yung hindi maabot ng linya ng kuryente. Paraan ito ni President Marcos na bigyan ng dignidad ang mga namumuhay sa kadiliman (This is the administration’s solution to the lack of electricity in communities in other islands, top of the mountains and those with no power lines. This is the President’s way of giving dignity to those who leave in darkness),” Co underscored.