Solar panels bring hope to Haiyan-hit Guiuan

GUIUAN, Philippines – Three months after super typhoon Yolanda, international name Haiyan, residents of an island in Samar receive a gift of hope to power up their hard-hit community.

Pia Ranada reports.

This is night time in Butig, an island in Guiuan, Samar.

Yolanda’s winds destroyed Butig’s power lines. Homes of the fishermen became piles of debris overnight.

HINOVEBA ABUCOT, SCHOOL HEAD, BUTIG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Parang natatandaan pa namin yung araw na nagkaroon ng Yolanda na madilim na madilim ang nadidinig lang namin ang huni ng malakas na hangin ng Yolanda. Nakakatakot at akala namin yun na ang the end namin. (We remember the day Yolanda came when it was very dark and all we could hear was the strong winds of Yolanda. It was scary. We thought it was the end.)

These panels are able to turn sunlight into 50 watts of electricity. A solar panel finally reaches Butig in February. Michael Abundo leads the group that brought the panels to the town.
His group aims to install 50 solar panels in Yolanda-hit areas by March.

MICHAEL ABUNDO, FOUNDER, PROJECT ENKINDLE: Each of these solar panels or systems are capable of lighting up 3 to 5 households and they’re able to do mobile phone charging, maybe light appliance use if needed.

Locals are eager to help. The local carpenter fashions a post. The community, through a stewardship system, are in charge of maintaining the solar panel.

MICHAEL ABUNDO, FOUNDER, PROJECT ENKINDLE: We install these systems in a community and let them take care of it using this stewardship method. Memorandum of agreement between the steward and us: We are giving you this. You’re supposed to share it with other people.

Once installed, the panel charges cellphones. Light bulbs come to life. These small changes bring great relief to the locals.

HINOVEBA ABUCOT, SCHOOL HEAD, BUTIG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: At least naman yung mga bata, makakapag-aral sa gabi. Malaki ang magiging benepisyo sa paglalagay ng ilaw sa health center dahil ang health center namin ay nasa gitna ng barangay. Hindi lang mga bata ang magiging benepisyado pero pati yung mga komunidad, yung mga matatanda. Parang maliliwanagan din kami kahit sailang ilaw lang. (At least the kids can now study at night. There are big benefits from putting the light in the health center because it is at the center of the village. Not only the kids will benefit but also the community and the elderly so we can have even a little light.)

That night, the children make the most of the light.

YOUNG BOYS: Masaya ba kayo na may ilaw? Yes. Anong gagawin niyo diyan? Mag-aaral. May homework ba kayo? Wala. Sigurado kayo? Yes. (Are you happy that there’s light? Yes. What will you do with it? Study. Do you have homework? None. Are you sure? Yes.)

For the townspeople of Butig, with the light comes hope. And with hope, recovery.
Pia Ranada, Rappler, Guiuan, Samar. – Rappler.com