Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy Program

Hundreds of students at the Marilog Central Elementary School will now enjoy the benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) as the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program inaugurates its solar-powered computer laboratory on July 16. On the same day, AMORE USAID will turn over to Marilog School the management of the improved water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) facility, which will provide the students access to safe water and toilet facilities.

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Residents of the city and nearby island provinces will have a chance to see alternative lighting systems and products as the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Business Exposition organized by the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program opened on July 09 at the scenic Paseo del Mar.

Students of ten rural schools in the Marilog District, some 50 kilometers from downtown Davao, will soon be able to see animated visuals moving to background music and audio, as their school will soon be energized using solar photovoltaic modules.

SunPower Philippines – a leading private solar cells manufacturer – and the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program signed a Deed of Donation that formally transfers to the program a total of 20 solar panels for rural school electrification.

Members of the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement the third phase of the Program on April 27, 2010 at the La Mesa Eco Park, Quezon City.

The Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy Program is pleased to announce the coming on board of Mr. Jesus “Chito” Francisco as the program’s Chief of Party.

Ambassador Kristie Kenney gives 12-year old Saima Badule a token after the latter has given a testimonial at a gathering of rural electrification stakeholders on 10 June 2009 at a hotel in Manila. Saima’s elementary school in the village of Kabuling in Pandag, Maguindanao was one of the over 200

Secretary Angelo T. Reyes and United States Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney led a gathering of rural electrification stakeholders in lighting the 53-foot solar-powered Christmas tree two weeks before Christmas. By using thirty-five solar modules donated by Sunpower Corporation, and by adorning the tree with fifty thousand energy-efficient LED (light emitting diodes) lamps, the occasion highlighted the huge potential of renewable energy in the Philippines and need for energy efficient lighting. In the ceremony, the Department of Energy announced the launch of a household electrification program which aims to energize a million households in yet un-served areas through renewable energy.

An estimated 6,000 households living around the Ligwasan Marsh took urgent moves on Earth Day to protect the largest marshlands in the Philippines. Led by the Mindanao Alliance for Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE), a battery disposal awareness campaign was launched to educate homeowners living around the area on the proper disposal of used batteries in order to prevent possible leakage of toxic elements into the  biologically-diverse Liguasan Marsh.

Some 148 remote, conflict-affected villages in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Zamboanga del Sur are set to be electrified with solar home systems funded by Mirant Philippines Foundation under the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program.

Zamboanga City – Development assistance from the American people and local private-sector contributions are helping bring electricity to rural communities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program recently turned over to the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) 63 potable water projects benefiting some 9,000 individuals in remote coastal and upland villages in conflict areas in Mindanao.

Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla recently signed the MOA with AMORE Acting Chief of Party Chris Kopp and witnesses DOE Undersecretary Melinda Ocampo and Daniel Moore, Chief of USAID/Philippines' Office of Energy and Environment (OEE). Also present during the signing ceremony were AMORE Deputy Chief of Party Jim Orprecio and USAID/Phils. OEE’s Senior Technical Adviser Rosario Calderon and Cognizant Technical Officer Allan Mesina.

More remote villages in Mindanao, mostly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), will soon enjoy electric service for lighting, following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Dept. of Energy and international non-profit organization Winrock International for a Php 21 million grant under the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program.