The Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE), a USAID-funded rural electrification program for remote, conflict-affected and off-grid villages in the South, would switch off power in the 12,000 households covered by its projects in Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Basilan in the ARMM, and in some parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula.
AMORE’s Chief, Tetchie Cruz-Capellan, said the simultaneous switching off of power of their solar home systems for one hour, at 8:00 pm March 29, is “an effort to make a difference” by joining the global simultaneous turning off of power for one hour.
Tonight, at 8:00 pm local time, millions of people around the world will turn off their lights “to show that by working together, people can make a difference in the fight against global warming”, according to a statement released by AMORE.
AMORE said that the climate change campaign initiative called ”Earth Hour” was aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
The symbolic move started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and has now gone global. At least 24 cities across the world signed up for today’s (March 29) event.
The Earth Hour, created by the World Wildlife Fund, a group of global environmentalists, will be the largest voluntary power down in history.
AMORE said that in its case, the household beneficiaries of AMORE’s solar projects were
providing “stand-alone renewable energy systems such as solar and micro-hydro-electric”.
“By replacing kerosene lamps with solar-powered batteries that run the homes' compact fluorescent lights (CFL), the program is estimated to have mitigated over 6,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions since the program started in 2002,” the AMORE said.
The program is a cooperative agreement between the US Agency for International Development, the Philippine Department of Energy, then Mirant Philippines Foundation, the ARMM regional government, and the Winrock International. (MindaNews)
