Solar charging station brings light in darkness to an Ata Community in Paquibato

“The experience was enriching and rewarding seeing the genuine joy of a tribal community for a gift that they have been all dreaming for years.”

This is what Fermin Edillon, Davao Light and Power Co.'s Manager for Community Relations said after the turn over of a newly installed solar charging station last June 4 to the Ata community in Sitio Damilag, Barangay Mapula, Paquibato District, Davao City.



This Ata community, which is around 73 kilometers from the city proper that includes a 2.5-hour journey through long, narrow, and bumpy road,and running across a couple of streams in at least a 4-wheel drive off road pick up vehicle, is an off-grid rural area within the Davao Light’s franchise. Their only source of light at night is the bright sky and the light emitted from their kerosene lamps. Without these, Sitio Damilag is a mere pitch black at night.

With the newly installed solar charging station, the residents will now be able to roam around the community at night and enjoy entertainment from radio at least. They will also no longer have to depend on kerosene lamps where they spend a total of P300 a month for gas alone.

As a start, Davao Light has provided batteries and LED lamps each to 40 household-beneficiaries in Sitio Damilag. Prior to the turn over, electrical house wiring, bulb receptacles and convenience outlets were also installed to the houses of these beneficiaries. With this, light is just a click away.

The team of Davao Light’s Streetlights and Poles Utilities, as headed by its manager Donald Diwara, traveledtirelessly going to and from Sitio Damilag to conduct the pre-installation works.

Aside from this, Davao Light has partnered with the program to help in the capacity building of the residents. A group of men and women from the tribe will be organized to train them how to handle the day to day operations like collection, maintenance and other activities necessary for the solar charging station. Other related training will follow to help them sustain the operations including technical assistance.

Davao Light will continue to identify off-grid far-flung areas to provide them with projects that are timely and necessary to help improve the lives of the IP communities. Thus, advancing business and communities.