1. AUGUST 2012 2012
March Volume 1 Issue 2 3
Volume 1 Issue
LIWANAG
*
*Brightness or luminosity
*brightness or luminosity
An AMOREEProgram Newsletter
An AMOR Program Newsletter

2. The Alliance for Mindanao
and Multi-Regional
Renewable/Rural Energy
Development or AMORE
Program is a collaboration
among the Department
of Energy, United States
Agency for International
Development, SunPower
Foundation and Winrock
International toward
electrification of remote,
off-grid rural communities
using renewable energy
sources such as solar and
micro-hydro.

3. FROM THE COP’S DESK
“ “
The key to ending extreme poverty is to enable the poorest of the
poor to get their foot on the ladder of development. They lack
the minimum amount of capital necessary to get a foothold, and
therefore need a boost up to the first rung.
-Jeffrey Sachs
F
or the past three months – indeed, This creative energy is what we aim to
for the past 10 years – this is what develop in communities that have been
the AMORE program has been given the opportunity to extend the benefits
trying to do: providing the minimum of light to their entire village or even to the
capital necessary that would kick start neighboring villages. It is also what we had
impoverished communities’ development. in mind when we constructed the solar-
This capital takes two forms – simple powered potable water pump in Cagbalete
infrastructure for basic services such as Island in Mauban, Quezon, complete with a
electricity, potable water and modern refilling station. If even only 5 percent of the
education, and human capital. total households in the island bought water
from the water refilling station everyday,
During the past three months, we had been the water system is poised to generate a
busy building up and strengthening this substantial revenue that will provide the
human capital that will ensure sustainable necessary leverage for more development
and expanded benefits for the communities. initiatives in the island.
New organizations – incidentally, all all- As for our part, much of our creative
women – were formed out of villages that energies will be devoted in the
will be energized soon, and the already coming months to energizing schools
functioning community organizations and connecting students to modern
were taught how to run their small solar technology, in the Autonomous Region in
photovoltaic business successfully. With Muslim Mindanao. In June, we signed a
new credit from a partner microfinance Memorandum of Understanding with the
institution, these community associations regional government and Department
are well on the way to expanding the of Education for the electrification of 42
benefits of PV technology to the rest of the schools in Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi.
members of their villages. Most of our planned school-based potable
water projects will also be implemented in
The first and foremost task of development, the next few months, and will benefit the
according to Muhammad Yunus – founder students in the region tremendously.
of Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank – is to turn
on the engine of creativity inside each By investing in ARMM’s children, the
person. Any program that merely meets the program hopes to give the region the
physical needs of a poor person is not a true slightest toehold on the ladder to future
development program unless it leads to the development.
unfolding of his or her creative energy.
LAURIE B. NAVARRO
Chief of Party
1

4. BRINGING MODERN ENERGY
SERVICES TO RURAL
HOUSEHOLDS
T
his summer season, the sun
shone more brightly for the
communities of Bantol and
Magsaysay in Marilog District,
Davao City as more households
began to benefit from earlier rural
electrification initiatives in the area.
The end of the season, meanwhile, has
marked the beginning of brighter living
for communities in the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
provinces of Maguindanao and Tawi-
Tawi, as the AMORE program lays the
groundwork for solar photovoltaic (PV)
electrification using the consumer-
friendly Business Development
Assistance (BDA) scheme. An innovative
model for renewable energy service
delivery, the BDA scheme – in addition
to community capacity building on
entrepreneurship, and institutional
linkaging – is one of AMORE program’s
strategies for sustainable and wide-
reaching renewable energy solutions
to continue improving the lives of rural
off-grid communities.
LIWANAG an AMORE Program Newsletter Volume 2 2

5. Twenty-two barangays in
Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi
prepare to get energy source
from the sun
Residents in twenty-two implemented in early
(22) villages, previously 2012, saw rural homes in
energized by the AMORE 21 communities in Davao
program, look forward to City and the Zamboanga
having more households Peninsula energized with
energized with solar various solar equipment.
home systems or solar The BDA is an innovative
PV lanterns. Under the approach that facilitates
Business Development commercial sale and
Assistance (BDA) scheme, sustainable operations
a total of 155 solar home of renewable energy
systems and 685 solar systems in underserved,
lanterns of various unenergized rural
capacities are expected market, through the use
to bring light to homes of financing and delivery
in the two provinces. mechanisms that are
This is the second within the reach and
batch of homes to be capacity to pay of the
energized under the said target household market.
scheme; the first batch,
More credit, more light
A notable milestone Foundation, Inc.).
in AMORE’s efforts CARD-BDSFI started
to strengthen a solar PV program
local community with an initial portfolio
organizations’ consisting of 50,000-
ability to engage in peso worth of solar
renewable energy (RE) lanterns, 30 units of
business sales and which were sold by
services was reached the two BRECDAs to HIGH-CAPACITY
with a partnership members of their
agreement communities. The two
between two village associations
BRECDAs (Barangay are required to pay
Renewable Energy 20 percent of the
and Community total worth of the
Development loaned PV products,
Association) – Bantol and the remaining
and Magsaysay – balance over a six-
in Davao City and month period. By June
the micro-finance 2012, the Magsaysay MEDIUM-CAPACITY LOW-CAPACITY
institution, CARD- BRECDA had placed
BDSFI (Center for orders anew for 62
Agriculture and Rural Residents choose from among a selection of solar
units of solar lanterns home system and various capacities of solar
Development-Business ranging from medium lanterns – high, medium, low – depending on their
Development Service capacity to pay for the renewable energy systems.
to high capacity.
3

6. ’s
CDA
BRE
ysay Store
M agsa PV
r
Sola
Solar PV Business 101
As the chairman of the The training on Licuroan, Panampalay
Magsaysay BRECDA, entrepreneurship, put and Bagumbayan in
Floremante Labarca together by the AMORE Zamboanga del Norte
is happy with the program in May and had the opportunity
organization’s near 100 June 2012, were just to listen to business
percent collection rate what Floremante needed expertise provided by
on monthly payments to finally nudge him resource persons from
for the solar PV products into expanding the the Department of Trade
put in the care of the solar business. The and Industry and micro-
BRECDA less than a year trainings are aimed to finance organization,
ago. Financially, they support intensification of CARD.
are in good standing household electrification
to offer products to by introducing The two-leg training was
more members in sustainability mechanisms held with support from
the community, but and direction for the the International Copper
Floremante had dared not BRECDAs’ businesses. Association-Southeast
be bold and expand the Officers of BRECDAs of Asia.
business for fear of losing Bantol and Magsaysay
money and driving the in Davao City; and
business aground. Sagacad, Pedagan,
LIWANAG an AMORE Program Newsletter Volume 2 4

7. KINAIYAHAN
SITAWA Chairwoman
Christine Rose
Abalayan addresses
officers and members
during the induction
ceremony. The
women’s organization
was revived to
P
manage the solar
home systems to be
given by AMORE and SA
OG
the Aboitiz Foundation. ASK S
KAB GLAWA
PAN KAKAGTANGAN
Women power to harness solar power
in Davao’s rural villages
In rural villages selected by AMORE
and project partner Aboitiz Foundation
for renewable energy electrification,
women take the lead in community
associations organized to handle the
systems’ operation and maintenance and A campaign was launched
the expansion of the rural electrification that educates residents
on how, with proper
initiative to include more households used lead-acid battery
in the village and the neighboring disposal and recycling,
they could earn while
communities. Leaders of two associations protect their health and
– the Sibulan Tagabawa Women’s
Association (SITAWA) of Brgy. Sibulan
Villagers take on the the environment.
in Davao City, and the Kiblan Solar issue of used lead-acid
Home Association (KISHA) of Brgy.
Coronon in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur batteries KKK-style
– took their oath of office in separate
ceremonies held on July 5th and 6th, Kapaligiran, Kalusugan, Kayamanan (Environment,
respectively. An old organization revived Health, Wealth) is the Bantol and Magsaysay villagers’
for the purpose of managing the solar battle cry on the subject of toxic used lead-acid
home systems, SITAWA currently has batteries from solar photovoltaic systems. Officials of
women Tagabawans – an indigenous the Bantol and Magsaysay Barangay Renewable Energy
people tribe – at the helm, while and Community Development Association signed
KISHA – a new association formed by on July 25, 2012 a service agreement with Oriental
AMORE – has women IP leaders for the & Motolite Marketing Corporation, and Philippine
organization’s topmost position as well. Recyclers, Inc. (PRI) for the collection and recycling of
Electrification in the third village to be used lead-acid batteries or ULAB. Under the agreement,
energized through the AMORE-Aboitiz
the village associations are responsible for collecting
collaboration – Brgy. Baganihan in Davao
City – is led by an existing community ULABs from households in the village, and for contacting
association, the Kilusan ng Kababaihan Motolite which buys the ULABs from the BRECDAs and
sa Barangay Baganihan (Barangay transporting them for recycling to PRI. This collection
Baganihan Women’s Association). Social system will be replicated among strategically clustered
and community preparation have been AMORE-energized villages. Residents of the villages
done in these communities, and actual have been trained on proper battery handling, and
electrification is expected to happen in are aware of the toxic elements in a battery and its
the next few months. potential harmful effects to human health and the
environment. The battery of the solar home system runs
out after two to three years of use.
5

8. PUMPING UP HEALTHIER LIVES
THROUGH ACCESS TO SAFE WATER
The first rain showers of the rainy Villagers organize Labor and Employment,
the members of each
season were welcomed by residents into Water
trained on technical
who are by now aware that that same Associations systems operation and
Village residents begin
rainwater that falls to the ground is the basic organization and
to take leadership
same safe, potable water that comes in the operation and
financial management.
Stakeholders in schools
out of the newly constructed water maintenance of their
– including the Parents-
systems – spring-fed or solar-powered community’s potable
Teachers Association and
water supply after
water pump – in their villages and student organizations
having been organized
schools. Together with constructing by AMORE into a
– that host five out of 14
school-based potable
potable water systems in poor, rural Barangay Water System
water systems were
communities, the AMORE program Association or BAWASA.
similarly given trainings
A BAWASA in 10 out of
organizes community members into a on effective operation
13 community-based
water association and equips them with water systems has been
and management of
the water systems and
knowledge of their natural ecosystem’s organized and registered
proper sanitation and
processes and proper care. with the Department of
hygiene.
LIWANAG an AMORE Program Newsletter Volume 2 6

9. 1The potable water system is a source of
a new enterprise in the island that has the
potential to generate revenues for further
development projects for the community.
A 420-watt peak solar PV system powers a
LORENTZ PS1200 engine to pump up water
for storage at the 12-cubic meter ferro-
cement reservoir in Cagbalete island.
Solar technology powers 2,000 households. AMORE, water refilling station everyday,
water enterprise in in cooperation with project the water system is poised to
partners Quezon Power and generate a revenue of more than
Cagbalete Island Mauban municipal government, 900,000 pesos annually. The
In the island of Cagbalete –
constructed a 12-cubic meter income-generating project will
lying 13 kilometers from the
concrete water reservoir that is provide the necessary leverage
Mauban municipality port,
filled with water pumped up from for more development initiatives
along the waters of Lamon
the ground by power generated in the island.
Bay and Pacific Ocean – solar
by two units of 210-watt peak
photovoltaic (PV) technology
SunPower solar PV panels. The
has not only powered up lights
water project administrator –
and educational television at
Cagbalete Elementary School –
the island’s elementary school,
plans to sell safe, potable water to
but has also only recently begun
residents in the island for 25 pesos
to power up entrepreneurship
for a 20-liter container – a big 30
with the construction of a water
pesos savings from their usual
refilling station that is looking
water expenditure. If even only 5
to serve the potable water
percent of the total households in
needs of the island’s more than
the island bought water from the
7

10. FIRING UP
STUDENTS’ LEARNING THROUGH
MODERN EDUCATION EQUIPMENT
T
he students’ return to school in June
was literally made brighter by lights and
educational television running on solar
photovoltaic (PV) technology in the island of Isla
Verde in Batangas City, while students in the ARMM
provinces of Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi go back
to schools soon to be installed with the same
educational equipment. By investing on children’s
education, the AMORE program truly makes access
to electricity through renewable energy a platform
for sustainable community development for poor
communities.
On to a brighter, energized ARMM!
Teachers and school City on June 11, 2012 to Tawi will begin to enjoy has been a ma jor site of
heads from as far sign a Memorandum the benefits of electricity community development
away as Sibutu of Understanding with and multimedia-based projects initiated by the
– the Philippines’ the AMORE program education equipment, AMORE program since
most southernmost for their schools’ after the forging of a 2002. Nearly half of the
municipality, found electrification through cooperation agreement total AMORE-energized
only 14 kilometers east solar PV technology. signed by high-level schools in Mindanao are
of the coast of Sabah, More than 10,000 representatives of the in ARMM.
Malaysia – flocked to students in 42 schools Department of Education-
the ARMM Regional in the two provinces of ARMM and ARMM regional
Complex in Cotabato Maguindanao and Tawi- government. The ARMM
Heads and teachers of 42 elementary Hundreds of schools in The AMORE program’s education
schools in Maguindanao and Tawi- the Autonomous Region initiatives in the ARMM are in
Tawi signed a Memorandum of in Muslim Mindanao are cooperation with the regional
Understanding with the AMORE still without access to government and Department of
program for the schools’ electrification electricity as the mural Education. In photo are (l-r) ARMM
using solar PV technology. depicts. Governor’s Chief of Staff Amihilda
Sangcopan, AMORE Chief of Party
Laurie Navarro, and DepEd-ARMM
Asst. Sec. Mohammad Noor Saada.
LIWANAG an AMORE Program Newsletter Volume 2 8

11. All of the six elementary
schools at Isla Verde
have been energized
using a 1-kilowatt
solar modules
from the SunPower
Foundation. The school
electrification projects
in the island are a
collaboration between
the AMORE program
and One Meralco
Foundation.
Just as darkness is lifted
from the schools in the
island, a solar panel is
raised during the project
inauguration by (l-r) DOE
USec. Jose Layug, Jr., a
Meralco official, Meralco’s
Ambassador of Light
Shamcey Supsup, USAID
Deputy Mission Director
Reed Aeschliman, OMF Exec.
Dir. Jeffrey Tarayao and
DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro.
Teachers learn ways to infuse lessons
on renewable energy with energy!
Narcisa Darlo, a Grade 6 Science teacher at the
Balite Elementary School in Marilog District, Davao
City, attributes the school’s notable improvement
The future is bright indeed in science in last year’s National Achievement
Test to their regular use of educational television.
for Isla Verde students Up by nearly 100 percent, Balite’s score in 2011
increased to 70 percent from 34 percent the year
before. While Ms. Darlo’s experience is pretty
On May 26, 2012, six 1-kilowatt peak solar PV much a common occurrence among rural schools
systems and educational television equipment electrified with solar PV technology and then
were turned over to school administrators and installed with educational television, the AMORE
community members of Isla Verde in Batangas program does not rest on its laurels and keep
City in an event led by AMORE project partner, thinking up ways to optimize the benefits teachers
One Meralco Foundation. Timed right before and students can derive from the education
the opening of classes, the inauguration event equipment.
had in attendance Department of Energy
Undersecretary Jose Layug, Jr., Department of This is why AMORE had prepared a reference manual
Education Secretary Armin Luistro, USAID Acting on how to enrich the existing Department of Education
Mission Director Reed Aeschliman, AMORE Chief grade school science curriculum, specifically on the topic
of Party Laurie Navarro, One Meralco Foundation of renewable energy – a subject that is increasingly
Executive Director Jeffrey Tarayao, SunPower becoming relevant alongside climate change.
Corporation’s Ana Coscolluela, Meralco corporate Lesson plans based on the reference materials, and
officers, Meralco’s “Ang liwanag ng bukas” (The incorporating fun and engaging activities for students,
future is bright) Ambassador Shamcey Supsup, were pilot tested among 16 grades 4 to 6 teachers from
and Batangas City local government unit AMORE-ssisted schools in the Marilog and Kaputian
representatives. More than a thousand students Districts, in a training-workshop from June 28 to 29, 2012
of the six elementary schools of the island will held in Davao City. Revisions to the draft manual will be
benefit from the renewable energy-ran lights made based on the results of the workshop and feedback
and educational television. from the teacher-participants. The 2-day workshop
was held with support from the International Copper
Association-Southeast Asia.
9

12. IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Partners in Development Shining Through
As a tribute to the Mother’s Day celebrations held in May, we are
featuring the stories of two mothers in this edition’s In the Spotlight.
– editor
GEMMA ABAG
The journey from darkness to light,
housewife to solar entrepreneur
Gemma Abag is a night with the reality that The opportunity for from solar photovoltaic
typical mother in a rural electricity service is not her family to finally (PV) sources – was
village. She manages the something that she could experience the not the only thing that
household, is a helpmate rely on to help her in conveniences of light presented itself to her;
to her farmer husband, her wifely and motherly arrived in April this year like a beacon, the solar
and is a devoted mother duties. She sees her with the coming of the PV technology that was
to her three young children struggling to do Alliance for Mindanao recently introduced to
children. And as is typical their homework under the and Multi-Regional residents in the village
of every Matigsalog flickering gas lamp whose Renewable/Rural Energy has guided her on to a
mother who had been smoke catches in their (AMORE) Development path never before taken
born – and decided to throats, and it will be up Program into their by a typical Matigsalog
stay on – in the village of to her – as the proverbial village, bringing solar woman – that of a solar
Marilog on the mountains Ilaw ng Tahanan – to home systems and solar entrepreneur.
of Davao del Sur, she finally bring light to the lanterns. For Gemma,
lives every day and every household. though, light – sourced
04
02
03
01 03
Gemma Abag quite enjoys her role as the Members of the association gathered on April
secretary of the Marilog Solar Women 26th to receive the solar lanterns under AMORE’s
Association. Business Development Assistance scheme.
02 04
The lease tariff is based on the residents’ The proud new owners of solar lanterns with
monthly expenditure for kerosene. A member John Smith of the Well of Life Foundation
can own a solar lantern by paying Php150 a
01 month for up to 25 months.
LIWANAG an AMORE Program Newsletter Volume 2 10

13. Gemma’s journey began earlier
than April. It in fact began in
October of the previous year
when Well of Life, a Davao-based
“
NGO that had then been assisting
residents in the village through
organic farming and livelihood
projects, sought out the AMORE
program for the possibility of a
household electrification project in The solar PV project requires of
Brgy. Marilog. The AMORE program the women two sets of skills – that of
the year before installed solar a technician’s on the one hand, and
home systems in two neighboring
villages, and at the time was in the of an entrepreneur’s on the other.
middle of rolling out a new scheme Whether they could manage to extend
that hoped to facilitate commercial
sale to and sustainable operations the benefits of light to many more
of PV systems in underserved households in their village and for how
rural market. Called the Business long rest entirely upon their shoulders.
Development Assistance or
BDA package, the scheme uses
financing and delivery mechanisms
that are within the reach and
The Marilog Solar Women Association,
capacity to pay of the target 150-member strong, has proven to have “
household market. very capable shoulders.
The prospect of the AMORE
program working in Brgy. Marilog
was bright. An association of were after all to be custodians
women – of which Gemma was a of 88 units of solar lanterns and The tariff – Php5.00 per night
member – laid dormant for so long two solar PV battery charging for solar lantern rental – that the
after having been organized many stations, and whether they could MSWA has decided to collect is
years before by a village councilor manage to extend the benefits of largely based on the amount the
was revived by Well of Life and light to many more households in residents spend for kerosene.
renamed the Marilog Solar Women their village and for how long rest Households spend some 150 to 300
Association (MSWA). entirely upon their shoulders. pesos – excluding transportation
costs – monthly for kerosene.
The role of women in community The Marilog Solar Women Under the lease-to-own scheme,
development has long been Association, 150-member strong, residents can own the lantern after
regarded as invaluable. The has proven to have very capable up to 25 months of paying for as
AMORE program itself recognizes shoulders. low as Php150 a month.
the woman’s natural nurturing
predisposition, and looks to A few weeks into project Because of its affordability, it
them for the long-term care and implementation, MSWA find is no wonder that many of the
maintenance of the renewable themselves with 3,900 pesos households in the village are
energy systems. Early this year, the from participation fees payments interested to lease a solar lantern
program held weeklong trainings (Php100.00) and fees (Php5.00 for from the MSWA. The women’s
on PV operation, maintenance each additional night) collected organization has not cracked a
and troubleshooting in four cities from the lease-to-own scheme that tenth of the market; more than
– Pagadian, Dipolog, Zamboanga they began to implement. Included 2,600 families live in the village,
and Cotabato – that had been in the amount is the Php10.00 that and at the moment only 88 units of
participated in by a total of 65 the solar lantern lessee solar lanterns are being leased to
women from AMORE project sites paid each time he or she serve the residents’ lighting needs.
across Mindanao. recharged the equipment at the
solar PV charging station. That is a predicament that the
It is the truth that more than their women’s association hopes to
husbands who are more mobile In the coming weeks, the MSWA solve by partnering with the
from searching for jobs in the will add solio chargers – small Center for Agriculture and Rural
fields and in the big cities, it is solar chargers with internal Development, a microfinance
the women that stay on in the rechargeable battery ideal for institution that has begun
community. As they are the first to charging cellphones and PDAs, speaking to them about expanding
be alarmed when basic necessities and can power up small LED lights the business and possibly getting
in the household are lacking, it for task lighting – to their current more solar PV equipment that they
is they, for certain, who will not portfolio of solar PV products. would manage and lease out on
allow a most enjoyed convenience As part of the AMORE program’s either on a short-term or long-term
such as light to be snatched continuing support to budding basis. This way, the benefits of light
away from them because of poor solar entrepreneurs, especially may reach the rest of the families,
maintenance. those that demonstrate ability and no mother shall have to watch
in managing and expanding the her children choke on kerosene
It took the AMORE program three business, the MSWA will be given smoke again.
months to prepare the women for 16 units of solio chargers that
the new undertaking. The solar PV the organization can either offer
project requires of the women two as incentive to clients buying PV
sets of skills – that of a technician’s products on a cash basis, or use
on the one hand, and of an to operate a cellphone charging
entrepreneur’s on the other. They business.
11

14. NARCISA DARLO
On the road less travelled
01
Ma’am Narcisa has acted
both as a mother and
teacher to all pupils that
studied under her before
moving on to high school.
02
The nearly 300 students
– 20 percent of whom are
from the Matigsalog tribe
– of the Balite Elementary
School displayed the
advantages they gained
from educational television
02 with their school’s good
performance – from 37
percent the year before
to 70 percent in S.Y. 2011-
2012 – at the National
Achievement Tests.
03
Teacher-participants to the
workshop on how to teach
the subject of renewable
energy demonstrate
how potential energy is
transformed to kinetic
energy.
01 03
N
arcisa Darlo had just given birth to her them live in the school where they teach and only
firstborn when she was transferred to get to see their families on weekends or school
the Balite Elementary School, some 60 holidays. These teachers live under the same
kilometers up on the hills and away from the conditions that the community lives in day in and
nearest commercial center in Davao City. Over day out – no electricity, no water systems that will
the next nineteen years, the now 44-year old make potable water available at a turn of a faucet,
educator would have three more children – or no convenience of one’s own cushioned bed.
600 more, if you ask the generations of pupils
who all studied under her on their final year in To be a teacher in the country’s rural areas is to
grade school before moving on to high school embark – quite literally – on a road less travelled.
either in Marilog or Calinan. Having to live away from their families for most
of the year was only one sacrifice; the other is
Indeed it’s the same motherly love that takes the everyday challenge of making do with scant
her away from her children’s bed hours before resources available in the constantly under-
dawn and on to the Davao-Bukidnon highway, budgeted education system. But it’s a road that
and finally into a classroom filled with young Narcisa does not resent having taken because her
faces beaming with anticipation. Getting back gains, while non-monetary, are no less rewarding
home from the school is no less easy: the wait – she is an instrument through which her students,
for a Davao City center-bound bus could take 20 percent of whom belong to the indigenous
hours; jeepneys plying the Bukidnon-Davao people tribes of Matigsalog and Bagobo, are
City national highway route are scarce, and propelled to reach greater achievements, to be
so are private vehicles willing to give a ride more in life.
to teachers signalling to hitchhike. She is still
lucky, though, she knows. Other teachers that And she has recently gotten help. In August 2010,
are assigned to the more remote, isolated the school began to have energy access using
areas of the Marilog District do not have the solar technology, and the students began to watch
luxury of going back home everyday; many of educational programs on television. On television!
LIWANAG an AMORE Program Newsletter Volume 2 12

15. “
To be a teacher in the country’s
rural areas is to embark – quite
literally – on a road less travelled.
But it’s a road that Narcisa does
not resent having taken because
her gains, while non-monetary,
are no less rewarding – she is an
instrument through which her
students, 20 percent of whom
belong to the indigenous people
tribes of Matigsalog and Bagobo,
are propelled to reach greater “
achievements, to be more in life.
Many of these students, having lived English lessons. not rest on its laurels and keep thinking
and stayed only in Balite all their life, All this attention has paid off. up ways to optimize the benefits
watched on television for the first time. The elementary school’s overall teachers and students can derive from
performance at the latest National the education equipment.
Ma’am Darlo – as she is called by Achievement Tests showed a
students and fellow teachers – remarkable improvement to 70 This is why AMORE had prepared a
suddenly found teaching so much percent from a failing 37 percent in S.Y. reference manual on how to enrich
easier and enjoyable. She recalls her 2009-2010. the existing Department of Education
previous attempts at illustrating the grade school science curriculum,
body’s circulatory system, her poor This stellar performance was what specifically on the topic of renewable
drawings of a human heart and blood Ma’am Darlo reported to teachers from energy – a subject that is increasingly
that looked no more than a first- the Marilog and Kaputian Districts becoming relevant alongside climate
grader’s squiggles, and understood her in Davao del Sur during a training- change. Lesson plans based on the
young students’ quick losing of interest. workshop on renewable energy basic reference materials, and incorporating
education curriculum facilitated by fun and engaging activities for
Balite’s students have become more the Alliance for Mindanao and Multi- students, were pilot tested among 16
engrossed in their learning with the Regional Renewable/Rural Energy grades 4 to 6 teachers.
coming of educational television. Like (AMORE) Development or AMORE
a sponge, they seem to be taking in Program on June 28-29, 2012. Ma’am Darlo – the long journey back to
with enraptured attention just about the school notwithstanding – couldn’t
everything that they watch – the While Ma’am Darlo’s school’s wait to go back and try out the new
illustrations and diagrams on the experience is pretty much a common teaching techniques among her
science lessons, the stick numbers on occurrence among rural schools beloved students.
mathematics lessons, the drama on electrified with solar PV technology
the history and civic education lessons, and then installed with educational
and the beautiful foreign sounds on the television, the AMORE program does
13

16. In the midst of rural electrification stakeholders, AMORE
welcomes new partners, Aboitiz Foundation and Quezon Power
On March 21, 2012 energy companies, and Quezon provinces. With the AMORE
Aboitiz – through its foundation – and program’s signing of memorandum of
Quezon Power became the AMORE understanding with the two companies,
program’s newest partners in making more than 400 and 60 households in Davao
renewable energy sources within the and Quezon provinces, respectively, are
reach of poor unenergized households poised to be energized with either a solar
in remote, off-grid areas in the Davao home system or a solar lantern.
01
02 03 04
05
07
AMORE Chief of Party
06 Laurie Navarro
09
Winrock International USAID Office of Energy Department of Energy
Environment Group Vice and Environment Deputy Undersecretary
08 10 President William Howley Chief Joseph Foltz Jose Layug, Jr.
01 approximate a typical rural village fruits – more effective and impactful the switch on for light to come through
Aboitiz Foundation President and where the AMORE program instruction, fun and interactive to off-grid rural communities – (l-r)
CEO Jon Ramon Aboitiz and AMORE implements projects. learning, improved overall school DOE’s Jose Layug, Jr., USAID’s Joseph
representative, Winrock International performance, and strengthened Foltz, AMORE program’s Laurie Navarro,
Environment Group Vice President 04 community bond – of AMORE’s Winrock International’s William Howley,
William Howley sign a memoradum of Various types and models of solar school electrification and education and SunPower’s Jascha Ortmanns.
understanding for electrification of some photovoltaic products were on display. projects.
426 households in the Davao region. 09
05 07 A Capella Manila rendered beautiful
02 A prototype of a micro-hydro power Alliance for community development: performances.
Mauban municipality Fernando Llamas, plant showed to the guests how power (r-l) USAID’s Joseph Foltz, Aboitiz
Winrock International’s William Howley was generated from run-of-river Foundation’s Jon Ramon Aboitiz, 10
and Quezon Power General Manager systems. Winrock International’s William Event guests watch a video
Simo Santavirta sign a memorandum Howley and DOE’s Jose Layug, Jr. documentary on the impact of
of understanding for electrification of 60 06 AMORE’s rural electrification initiatives
households in Cagbalete island. The ‘tree of knowledge’ shows in Mindanao.
the seeds – alternative energy 08
03 infrastructure, love and thirst for Representatives of the primary
The hotel lobby was made to learning, community bond – and partners of the AMORE program turn
LIWANAG an AMORE Program Newsletter Volume 2 14

17. KLIK! video documentation projects by community members
shown to AMORE program partners
Outputs of the twenty (20) project was participated in by filmmaking facilitated by AMORE These were Ms. Merlyn Reganon
participants to the Mga Kuha at young students, teachers and communications personnel, from the solar PV-energized
LIkha Mula sa Kanayunan (KLIK!) community members who where they were taught how barangay of Bagumbayan
video documentation project showed, though footages taken to use the camcorders and in Osmeňa, Zamboanga del
were shown at a gathering of through a camcorder, how light storytelling techniques. Norte; and Mr. Tahir Lucas from
AMORE program partners and and safe water have impacted the micro-hydro power plant-
stakeholders at the Shangri- their respective community’s life. Those that most clearly told their energized village of Sapad in
la Plaza, Manila on March 21, The participants had previously community’s story were invited Matanog, Maguindanao.
2012. The documentation attended a session on basic to the event at Shangri-la Plaza.
01
Twenty students and residents from
AMORE project sites in Maguindanao,
Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Sur and
the Zamboanga peninsula participated
in the KLIK! community video
documentation project. A two-leg basic
filmmaking training was held in Davao
and Dipolog cities in February 2012.
02
A Davao training participant tries her
01 02 04 hand at using the camcorder to record
project impact.
03
Three elementary students
participated in the documentation
project.
04
Ms. Merlyn Reganon, a trained
BRECDA solar technician from the solar
PV-energized village of Bagumbayan in
Osmeňa, Zamboanga del Norte, was
one of the winners of the KLIK! video
documentation project. In photo are
03 05 (l-r) USAID’s Joseph Foltz, Ms. Merlyn
Reganon, AMORE’s Laurie Navarro, and
Winrock International’s William Howley.
05
Sharing the win was Mr. Tahir Lucas
from the micro-hydro power plant-
energized village of Sapad in Matanog,
Maguindanao.
Lights. Camera. Action!
A
video documentary on AMORE’s rural electrification
work, The business of giving “power” to the
people, tells the stories of how access to energy
has ignited the community members’ creativity towards
their own development. It takes you to Sitio Lam-alis in
Columbio, Sultan Kudarat – where a micro-hydro power
plant was constructed in 2004 – and how it has fuelled
community development; to Brgy. Bantol in Marilog
District, Davao City where residents have ably maintained
a solar photovoltaic battery charging station put up in
2004; to the mountain village of Pedagan in Mahayag,
Zamboanga del Sur, where residents have benefited from
a collaboration between a renewable energy supplier
and a microfinance institution; and, finally, to Cotabato
City where an enterprising individual was able to build a
business that brings solar technologies to unserved rural
markets in Central Mindanao.
15

18. Head Office:
Unit 68 6/F Landco Corporate Center
J.P. Laurel Avenue, Ba jada, Davao City 8000
T/F: (63 82)2822517
Satellite Office:
2401 Jollibee Plaza Bldg., F. Ortigas, Jr. Road
Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1600
T: (63 2)6879283/6321233 F: (63 2)6312809
www.amore.org.ph
This publication is made possible by the support
of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development.
The contents are the responsibility of Winrock International
and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.