17 Barangays in Negros Oriental Get Solar Energy

Bayawan Mayor Ismael Martinez and recipients of solar home system units.            Photo Credits:  Roy Bustillo

The Department of Energy (DOE), in cooperation with the Bayawan City government and Silliman University, distributed solar home system (SHS) units in the city during the ceremonial switch-on on Wednesday (August 5).

Bayawan Mayor Ismael Martinez thanked the DOE for choosing his city as a site for its House Electrification Program (HEP), which would greatly help 17 barangays that don't have power.

Martinez said children in these barangays could now study better and people would become more productive. Electric lighting, he added, could also help deter crimes.

According to DOE-Visayas Director Antonio Labios, this is the second time the DOE had this project in the Visayas, with this one having the largest number of beneficiaries of HEP at 2,989.

Labios said that most of the sitios are only accessible by foot or by habal-habal when the weather permits. The areas are also 5 kilometers away from the last pole of the local electric cooperative.

The solar home system units are composed of solar panels with a 10-kilowatt peak capacity and 30-kilowatt peak capacity batteries.  Original post by CNN:  DOE Gives Solar Energy Units to Negros Oriental Barangays.