The SOLARES project staff headed by Mr. Jobe C. Tubigon, Project Manager, participated in the Solar PV Mainstreaming Project Joint Meeting/Window 2 Design Workshop held at Socoteco II Seminar Hall in General Santos City on February 26, 2019. The purpose of the workshop was to review the Solar Home System (SHS) or Photovoltaic (PV) Mainstreaming Window I implementation experience in Mindanao and identify lessons learned to simplify and improve SHS Window II implementation. PV Mainstreaming is a Department of Energy (DoE) initiative, supported by the World Bank’s Access to Sustainable Energy in the Philippines (ASEP) Programme.
Electric Cooperatives (ECs) presented their Window I experiences on the preparation, procurement, marketing, installation & verification phases. The group were also able to brainstorm together and complement actions to improve its mechanics for Window II. It was also an opportunity for Mahintana to harmonize the SHS technical design/specifications, the target areas and sustainability mechanisms of PVM with the SOLARES project.
World Bank Consultant Mr. Ian Driscall presented the Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification (RE4RE) system, a GIS platform developed to strengthen the impact of electrification projects fostering access to electrical services. The platform makes information available to aid in decision making on energy-related projects and monitoring the progress of ongoing projects.
The attendees were key staff and officers from different Electric Coops (ECs) namely: SUKELCO, FIBECO, COTELCO, Socoteco II, DASURECO and BUSECO. Also present were representatives from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Yamog organization, National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF).
