Team Energy, DoE power remote Quezon islands

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Energy and Team Energy—a partnership between Japanese firms Marubeni Corp. and Tokyo Electric and Power Co.—have completed a series of projects, which provided electricity to some 3,400 households in the most remote areas in Quezon.

“It is an honor for Team Energy, through Team Energy Foundation Inc. (Tefi), to have helped the DoE complete this project, which brings the benefits of electricity to thousands of residents in the Polilio Group of Islands,” said Team Energy president and CEO Federico E. Puno.

“We are fully supportive of government’s efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos by helping energize the most remote barangays in our country,” Puno added.

Through a substantial grant from the DoE, Tefi, the corporate social responsibility arm of Team Energy, installed solar home systems in the three municipalities in Polilio Island, namely, Burdeos, Panukulan and Patnanungan.

These systems are being facilitated and managed by Renewable Energy and Community Development Associations (Recdas), which were formed prior to the introduction of the solar energy systems in the area.

The last batch to be completed were four barangays (villages) in Burdeous, namely Bonifacio, Rizal, Carlagan and Mabini and in Barangay Amaga, Patnanungan. These barangays are considered among the most inaccessible places in the country, especially during the wet months when giant waves pummel motorized outrigger boats that are the only means of transport to connect them to the Quezon mainland.

In the past, small genset operators provided electric services in the area. These, however, proved unsustainable given the rising cost of diesel fuel.

Aside from being expensive, service was often unreliable.

“We are hoping that the benefits of electricity will be fully harnessed to help improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries,” Puno noted.

Tefi executive director Roderick de Castro, meanwhile, added that after the solar home systems were installed, farmers and fishermen now enjoy longer productive hours—as a result of access to electricity as provided by the project.