CHINA is donating close to 3,000 units of solar-powered LED street light and a home solar-power system to communities in the province of Antique and the town of El Nido in the province of Palawan, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu and China’s Zhang Young, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the grant of solar-energy devices to Antique and El Nido, Palawan.
The MOU signing was held in Malacañan Palace during the recent visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to the Philippines.
In a statement, Cimatu said the signing of the MOU strengthens mutual trust and cooperation between the Philippines and China, particularly in the area of climate-change adaptation and mitigation.
The project is expected to benefit “off-the-grid” communities not reached by electricity or those with no street-lighting facility.
At the same time, the donation from the Chinese government will help promote the use of renewable energy in local communities to mitigate climate-change impacts, Cimatu added.
“We hope that through this agreement, we will be able to promote renewable energy in the far-flung areas in the Philippines and reduce carbon emissions,” Cimatu said.
Under the MOU, the DENR is tasked to oversee the delivery of 2,117 units of solar-powered street light and 769 units of a household solar-power system to the beneficiaries.
In Antique a total of 100 barangays, or 116,080 individuals, will benefit from 1,562 units of solar LED street light, while 151 barangays, or 179,848 individuals, will gain from 769 units. A total of 555 units of solar LED street light will be distributed to six barangays in El Nido, with 7,025 residents expected to benefit from the donation.
The DENR agreed to assume all the taxes and other cost arising for the goods entering Philippine territory, and for clearance, delivery and transportation of goods once they arrive. The agency will also supervise the installation of the devices and provide training for technical staff.