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The unveiling of the “Wall of Light”, which is a symbolic marker installation of the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program in ARMM, was celebrated on February 26, 2007 at the Shariff Kabunsuan Hall of the ARMM Complex.
This important event was witnessed by some of the cabinet members spearheaded by Atty. Oscar Sampulna, Executive Secretary of ARMM who represented the Regional Governor Zaldy Uy-Ampatuan, Solicitor General Atty. Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, Regional Board of Investments-ARMM Chairperson Ms. Sheryl B. Siao, DTI-ARMM Assistant Secretary Engr. Marites Maguindra and Bureau of Cultural Heritage Chief Bai Badria Uy Andamen.
AMORE Chief of the Party Ma. Theresa Cruz-Capellan with her partners USAID/Phils. Deputy Mission Director Frank Donovan, the Department of Energy Secretary Hon. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Mirant Philipppines Foundation Executive Director Roberto R. Calingo,PNOC OIC-President and CEO, Atty. Pedro A. Aquino, Jr.and no less than His Excellency Ambassador Robert A. Vornis of Netherlands graced the affair.
The AMORE Program promotes sustainable electrification in conflict areas in Mindanao that cannot be connected to the power grid, using stand-alone solar and microhydro power. Some 1,500 household in 46 remote villages in Mindanao began the year with new hope and bright lights.
Of these villages, 78%, or 46 villages, are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (16 in Tawi-Tawi, 13 in the newly created ARMM province of Shariff Kabunsuan that was formerly in Maguindanao, and 7 in Maguindanao). The remaining 10 villages are in Zamboanga del Sur.
The villages were electrified with solar photovoltaic systems and with microhydro power.
Winrock International, the non-profit organization is implementing AMORE, for the procurement of the systems through commercial bidding.
The solar power systems were funded by Mirant Philippines Foundation, AMORE’s lead private-sector partner. They were purchased from Shell Solar Philippines Corporation with a 60% subsidy from the Dutch Government under the Philippine National Oil Company’s Solar Home Systems Distribution Program.
AMORE is maximizing prospects for the sustainability of the systems via community organizations and capacity building. To ensure equity for the continued maintenance and expansion of the systems, the households contribute a monthly fee to their village association, the BRECDA-Barangay Renewable Energy and Community Development Association, which AMORE trains to manage, maintain and expand the systems. The funds are deposited in a bank under the name of the association.
This initiates the installations of the many projects of AMORE in remote areas in Mindanao especially in the conflict areas in ARMM to forge partnership in the peace and countryside development.