Eastern Samar map. INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY 鈥� A coastal municipality in Eastern Samar has shifted to solar power as a cost-effective electricity source and to promote renewable energy.
Guiuan town has partnered with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), an international non-government organization advocating fair climate policy and low-carbon, climate-resilient development, for the installation of a 60-kilowatt-peak (kWp) rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system on its municipal building.
Mylene Capongcol, assistant secretary of the Department of Energy, said the 60-kWp hybrid solar system could help the municipality save on energy costs and allow the local government to use its savings for other programs and investments.
鈥淭hrough this installation, we will see the proof of having the power to choose our electricity supply,鈥� she said.
Guiuan, located at the southernmost end of Samar Island, has regularly experienced power outages that could be solved through the solar power project, according to Mayor Analiza Gonzales-Kwan.
鈥淕uiuan is the largest municipality in Eastern Samar, and this project will inspire many others to see that it is possible. This collaboration between ICSC and the municipality of Guiuan demonstrates the power of partnership built on a shared vision, mutual trust, and a deep understanding of the community鈥檚 needs. It鈥檚 a game changer,鈥� the mayor said.
Kwan vouched for the durability of the solar panel system.
鈥淭hese panels cannot be destroyed easily even amid typhoons as they were mounted on concrete roofs unless the weather disturbance is as strong as Super Typhoon Yolanda,鈥� she said, referring to the strongest typhoon to hit the inland in 2013.
The memorandum of agreement for the hybrid solar PV installation project was signed between ICSC and the local government of Guiuan in October 2024.
At least 100 solar panels were installed at the rooftop of the municipal hall building before the ceremonial switch-on and turnover ceremony held last Feb. 27.
Following the turnover ceremony, the hybrid PV system will undergo a one-month testing period before full operational use.
The project represents the largest PV system installation by ICSC in Eastern Visayas and will provide power to the municipal hall and its facilities.
The goal is to extend the solar power program to commercial, industrial, and residential buildings.
Kwan said the municipal government pays around P200,000 for its monthly power consumption an amount that could be used for other services now that they already have a solar power system.
鈥淭his is cost-efficient and resilient and savings can be redirected toward essential programs for our people,鈥� she said in an interview on March 5.
鈥淩enewable energy can also be an economic driver since we need to foster a new workforce and enhance local technical expertise which can position Guiuan as a leader in sustainable development,鈥� Kwan added.
She hoped their move would inspire other government offices and even private houses in Guiuan to use solar power as their source of electricity.
Kwan said she also initiated the solarization of street lights in the islands of Homonhon, Manicani, Victory, Suluan, and Tubabao.
ICSC Executive Director Angelo Kairos Dela Cruz said the initiative serves as a model for climate-resilient development.
鈥淥ur partnership with Guiuan goes beyond the solarization of the municipal hall rooftop. This milestone signals systemic changes that will serve as an example of how climate-resilient development can be achieved through strong local leadership and collective action,鈥� he said.
Rectito Melquiades, Guiuan town council secretary, said powering up the solar PV system takes another significant step toward self-reliance, embracing renewable energy solutions for the communities, the economy, and the environment.
鈥淲e are not just switching on a new energy source for the municipal hall building. We are igniting a transformative journey for our beloved town鈥攐ne that prioritizes sustainability, resilience, and progress,鈥� he said.
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