Two Samar LGUs solarize municipal buildings
THE local government units (LGUs) of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and Paranas, Samar, forged ties with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) to install rooftop solar photovoltaic systems in their respective municipal buildings. According to ICSC Executive Director Angelo Kairos de la Cruz, the projects «aim to reduce long-term power costs and increase savings for other LGU investments, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on fossil fuels.»
The Solarize Guiuan project will install a hundred 600-watt bifacial solar panels with a total peak capacity of 60 kilowatts, while the Solarize Paranas project will install 88 units of 555-watt bifacial panels with a total peak capacity of 48.84 kilowatts. The projects are set to be completed within the year with the goal of reducing the «frequent power interruptions and blackouts affecting the entire Samar Island.»
De la Cruz signed memorandums of agreement (MoAs) with the LGUs during the first two weeks of October: the Solarize Guiuan project with Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan at the ICSC regional office in Tacloban City; and the Solarize Paranas project with Paranas Mayor Eunice Babalcon at the Paranas Municipal Hall.
ICSC partners with the LGUs of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and Paranas, Samar, to install rooftop solar photovoltaic systems for their respective municipal buildings. PHOTO FROM ICSC FACEBOOK PAGEKwan expressed concern that Guiuan's reliance on the unstable and expensive electricity from the grid is «holding the local economy back from taking off.» As she described it, the high energy costs and power outages have «deterred investors and hampered fisheries production.»
She hoped that the municipal building's solarization would inspire other affected private enterprises and government agencies in the area to follow suit.
Meanwhile, Babalcon said the project would fortify their solarization initiatives toward climate action, mitigation and adaptation. Their town has realized the «importance of having RE (renewable energy), especially during calamities, when electricity from the grid is cut… When you have solar power, you can continue to use your phones and have lights in the
