Philippine Daily Inquirer: Rural homes without electricity get chance to receive solar power (ShellNews.net)
Alex V. Pal, PDI Visayas Bureau
Aug 31, 2004
DUMAGUETE CITY-For as low as P343 per month, rural households in areas not reached by electricity will have the chance to use modern conveniences such as television sets, electric lights, karaoke's and radio sets through solar power energy.
Last week, the Negros Oriental provincial government, the Shell Solar Philippines Corp. and the Southern Sun Solar Power Corp. signed a memorandum of agreement that seeks to give solar-powered systems in rural areas through heavily-discounted loan packages.
The program makes use of the royalty payments of the Philippine National Oil Company to reduce the price of the solar power systems. The equipment and technology required to generate solar power remains expensive.
Discounts
From P35,000 for a 50-watt system, Negrenses can avail of a P15,000 discount through a grant from the Netherlands government and another P5,000 subsidy from the provincial government.
The balance of P20,000 will be given as a loan through participating rural banks and the Philippine Veterans Bank. The loan package allows poor buyers of the solar system units to pay in installments of up to five months.
"The monthly payment of P343 is much lower than what families in the rural areas pay for kerosene or batteries," said Vicente Ortuoste of the Southern Sun Solar Power Corp.
Each solar panel has a lifespan of 10 years to a maximum of 20 years.
Pat on the back
Roberto Buhain, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Philippine Veterans Bank, the bank that would hold funds for the project in escrow, lauded the provincial government's initiative in bringing electric power to the rural areas.
He said this was the first time that a local government unit was involved in this project, which is already being implemented in other provinces in the country.