Some thirty houses within the Gawad Kalinga Vuillage in far-flung Kibalang, a sitio in Barangay Marilog, Davao City, will soon be enjoying the amenities of urban living – clean and clear light from fluorescent bulbs or compact fluorescent lamps.
This developed as the Aboitiz-owned electric utility Davao Light & Power Co. committed to install a solar battery charging station in the Kapitbahayan GK Violet Hills community located in that off-grid area. Kibalang is still several kilometers away from the nearest electric facility of Davao Light which is now up to Lomondao on the highway going to Bukidnon.
The solar lighting project in the GK village was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement by and among Davao Light, Gawad Kalinga – Davao and the Kapitbahayan GK Violet Hills last Tuesday, November 23 at the company’s Administration Office along C. Bangoy Sr., St.
Davao Light executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (EVP-COO) Arturo M. Milan, GK – Davao City Head Glicerio Rosario and GK Kapitbahayan Violet Hills association president Celedonio Lacanilao Jr. signed for the respective entity they represent.
Providing solar powered battery charging facilities to light up households in remote and off-grid barangays and sitios is part of Davao Light’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. It is also in compliance with its mandate to serve localities considered in the electricity distribution business as “missionary areas”.
Davao Light will provide for free the solar panels and battery units for the 30 household beneficiaries, install the panels and battery charger, wirings and adaptors, as well as shoulder the cost of labor and provide the technical expertise in the training of some local residents who will be tasked to maintain the solar charging facility and the household installations.
GK – Davao, other than being the institutional partner, is tasked to help organize the training for the GK Kapitbahayan men who will maintain the facility, conduct value-formation teach-ins, do livelihood seminars for the community members, and organize the beneficiaries.
For its part the GK Kapitbahayan Violet Hills Village will ensure that the solar facility is properly maintained to ensure sustainability. The beneficiary households are also expected to actively participate in the various values formation and other training programs to be conducted by GK Davao.
