Acciona, through its Acciona.org Foundation, comes up with another proposal to Gov. Gwen Garcia that could be useful for Cebu’s islet communities.
During a meeting at the Capitol on February 5, Cristina Ruiz, Energy Manager and Global Director of Acciona.org Foundation, presents to the Governor a business model where low-income households are given access to renewable, reliable and affordable energy through “self-installable solar home systems.”
Ruiz said the system is successfully implemented in Palawan through the “Light at Home Palawan Programme” which brings access to electricity service to the poorest and most isolated rural areas of Palawan.
Primarily, Ruiz said the project is designed to serve communities that are not connected to the electricity grid and are situated in remote and underserved areas, promoting cost-effective investment and enhance the quality of energy services.
The installation of solar panels is free, but households will have to pay a fee for the energy consumption.
Gov. Garcia recognizes the potential of this program in helping power up island communities like Malapascua and suggested an alternative approach to the installation of solar panels. Instead of placing panels in individual homes like in Palawan, she recommended a centralized system for easier monitoring and maintenance.
Gov. Garcia also urged Ruiz to create a structured implementation plan that considers all relevant factors to ensure the program’s effectiveness, like formulating a detailed system for monitoring and collection, among others.
Also present were Ruben Camba, Acciona’s Managing Director for Infrastructure in Southeast Asia, and Engr. Pericles Dakay of Dakay Construction. | MARM