Negros Oriental - The Perpetual Help Community Cooperative Inc. (PHCCI), a prominent cooperative in the Visayas region, has donated PHP500,000 worth of solar lamp posts to underprivileged communities in Negros Oriental. The initiative has benefited hundreds of residents across six different barangays in the province.
According to Philippines News Agency, the donation this week included two solar lamp posts for each of 175 households spread across six barangays. The beneficiary barangays are Barangay Azagra in Tanjay City, supporting 30-35 households; Barangay Cabugan in Bindoy town for 30 households; Barangay East Balabag in Valencia for 25 households; Barangay Sab-ahan in Bais City for 20-25 households; Barangay Napacao in Siaton town for 13 households; and Sitio Salangan, Barangay Mayabon in Zamboanguita for 56 households.
The project, named 'Kaabag sa Kahayag' (Partner for Light), was initiated in 2022 to address the needs of barangays and communities where electricity is scarce, expensive, or inaccessible. Rex Rastica, PHCCI's chief marketing officer, stated that around PHP500,000 had been spent on the solar lamp posts project since its inception, with plans to continue donations throughout the current year.
Barangay Napacao chairman Enrico Aliabo commented that the project is particularly beneficial for indigent families in the area who do not qualify for electricity connection with the Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative II. Aliabo expressed gratitude to PHCCI and the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army for facilitating the donation.
Residents of the GK Kaigsoonan Village in Salangan also conveyed their appreciation to PHCCI for installing solar lamp posts, which have provided essential lighting during the night.