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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Odette-hit community in Bacolod goes solar to address power woes

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A  small farming community in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental is ending its long-term lack of proper access to electricity by installing a 1.6 kW solar photovoltaic system, which was inaugurated on Wednesday.

Members of the Association of Small Farmers of Purok Ilaya (ASFa-PI) said that they reside in privately-owned land that has not been reached by electricity posts and grid connections.

“Our community members considered tapping neighboring areas to have power, but we were told we would pay twice the amount charged to the rest of Bacolodnons, on top of the dangers of setting up such lines. Now, with our own solar power system, we not only get to have our own electricity, we also become a testimony to how clean energy can benefit communities like us that are often marginalized. We are thankful since this project will directly aid our members who do not have access to electricity. We can also use the solar power system to establish a hydroponics system in our association’s greenhouse,” Ludy Rivera, the chairperson of ASFa-PI, said in their statement.

The solar PV system, secured thanks to joint efforts by the community and partners civil society groups, was installed soon after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, the strongest storm to hit the country in 2021.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and Cabug Punong Barangay Juan Zonuel Malayang were also present at the inauguration to express support for the community-led initiative.

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“Devastating as it was, Odette triggered great awareness on the reliability of sustainable energy systems even at a time of disaster. This is thanks to small-scale renewable energy donation and deployment drives in areas on power outage – showing that renewables really can do what traditional, centralized, and polluting energy systems like coal and gas cannot. In the context of the climate crisis, it’s clear that there is an urgency for climate action, and we are initiating this with RE-empowerment starting from the grassroots,” said Grid Alila, Negros coordinator of national consumer’s movement Konsyumer.

According to the group, the  system will benefit a total of 60 families by powering the community’s common greenhouse and serving as a charging station especially for communication and lighting devices, which proved to be of utmost necessity at the onslaught of Odette.

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