Sunday, June 8, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
Winrock International has tapped the Department of Energy (DOE) anew for an affordable financing program that would commercialize solar home systems (SHS) in several barangays in Zamboanga Peninsula.
The DOE, through its Rural Power Project, previously entered into an agreement with Winrock in December 2005 for the implementation of the Expanded Rural Electrification Program in 21 barangays in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
With funding support from the department’s Sustainable Solar Market Package (SSMP), Winrock completed the installation of the communal electrification systems in these barangays.
The SSMP approach encourages the participation of the private sector in the commercialization of SHS.
“With the installation of SHS, families in these barangays have been given opportunities for additional sources of income. Children can also study at night and the whole community can bond together through activities such as karaoke singing. Moreover, harnessing the power of the sun to energize homes will bring substantial savings on the expense families pay for buying kerosene,” Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said during the transfer of ownership of the communal systems in Bgy. Langilan, San Miguel from the DOE to the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur.
Winrock International is a non-profit organization that implements the Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) program, an offshoot of a cooperative agreement among Winrock, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Mirant Philippines Foundation.
It will assist Paglaum, a microfinance institution, in establishing linkages with government and other funding programs on renewable energy to assist them in providing more access to affordable financing packages.
On the other hand, Paglaum will develop and package a financing scheme for the commercialization of the photovoltaic systems in the barangays.
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