Households in the remote Barangay Caliling in Cauayan, Negros Occidental received 25 solar lights and panels from the Project SUGA, an initiative of the Central Philippines State University (CPSU) and the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB).

“Suga” is the Hiligaynon term for “light”.

“Through the initiative, the parties provide solar-powered lighting and charging stations to underserved households in remote communities that remain beyond the reach of conventional electrification services,” the CPSU, which has a main campus in Kabankalan City, said in a report Thursday.

The distribution of the solar lights and panels on July 29 fulfills the first phase of the “Paghatag sang SUGA sa Komunidad: Solar Utility for Growth and Advancement (SUGA) Project”.

In April this year, CPSU president Dr. Aladino Moraca and 15IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Roberto Maduli signed a memorandum of agreement to formalize the partnership for the implementation of the project in the sixth congressional district of Negros Occidental.

Under the initiative, vulnerable households are given access to essential services, making daily household activities more convenient, particularly for women and children, through the provision of renewable energy-powered lighting and charging stations.

The project supports development in isolated communities by providing access to sustainable green technology without requiring any financial counterpart from beneficiaries.

Antonio Siroy of the CPSU Extension and Community Services Office conducted a practical training on the installation and troubleshooting of the solar lights and solar panel units to capacitate the beneficiary households in operating the equipment.

To support Project SUGA, the beneficiary households are encouraged to participate in CPSU’s “1 Million Trees and Counting” reforestation program by planting 300 fruit trees.

In a statement, the 15IB, which is based in Barangay Tiling, reaffirmed its commitment to serving and protecting the Filipino people by supporting peace and development initiatives and strengthening collaboration among government agencies.

Project SUGA is a response to Executive Order 70 or the whole-of-nation approach, which targets the root cause of insurgency by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government, in alignment with the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Aside from directly targeting SDG 7 or Affordable Clean Energy by providing the beneficiaries a renewable-energy-based light source and charging stations, the program also indirectly contributes to the attainment of SDG 1 or No Poverty by providing the poor and the vulnerable with access to basic services.

It also supports SDG 5 or Gender Equality by making the execution of domestic activities more convenient, especially for women; SDG 10 or Reduced Inequalities by promoting development in isolated communities; and SDG 11 or Sustainable Cities and Communities by giving them access to sustainable green technology without giving them monetary counterpart. (PNA)