AS part of its commitment to empower remote communities in the country, One Meralco Foundation (OMF) has energized, using solar power, a water distribution facility that will give residents of Barangay Sibaltan in El Nido, Palawan access to reliable and sustainable water supply. The initiative involves the installation of an 8-kilowatt peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) system to power the Acosta Water Pumping Station and is expected to benefit up to more than 300 households, majority of whom are members of the Cuyonon ethnic group. Managed by El Nido’s Municipal Economic Enterprises and Development Office (MEEDO), the water facility serves as the barangay’s main water source. It used to be powered by a diesel generator prior to the electrification, which translated to high operating costs and posed a challenge to MEEDO, as well as the community. The facility’s dependence on the use of generator sets also made them vulnerable to intermittent water service, affecting their daily activities, productivity, and livelihood, which include fishing and agricultural farming, particularly planting rice, and cashew nuts. El Nido Mayor Edna Gacot-Lim emphasized the benefits of the project to the municipality. “Ang programang ito ng One Meralco Foundation ay napakalaking tulong sa komunidad ng Barangay Sibaltan. Alam naman nating ang tubig ay isa sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng tao kaya't malaking bagay na may ganitong mga inisyatiba na ang tinutulungan ay malalayong mga barangay gaya ng Sibaltan. Sa halip na mag-igib pa ang mga residente, nakakarating na sa kanilang mga kabahayan ang maaasahang supply ng tubig,” she said. According to MEEDO Head Rene Acosta, the water pumping station has operated more efficiently following the energization of the facility. They have so far saved around 400 liters worth of diesel expenses while distributing around 4,300 cubic meters of water to hundreds of households in the barangay. Looking back to the community’s challenges before OMF’s water access electrification program reached Barangay Sibaltan, Mr. Acosta shared: “Malaki po ang aming gastusin sa fuel at kapag naubusan kami, minsan may araw na hindi kami makapag-operate kasi yung fuel ay kukunin pa namin doon sa bayan kaya minsan sa isang araw, walang supply ng tubig. Ngayon, kaya na mapaandar ang aming pumping station sa pamamagitan ng solar.” OMF’s transformative program has not only reduced Barangay Sibaltan’s utilization of fuel but has also enabled the community to align with the municipality’s commitment to adopt sustainable practices through renewable energy. “One Meralco Foundation’s mission is to really bring the benefits of electrification, especially to remote and marginalized communities like Barangay Sibaltan. Lighting up and bringing hope to the farthest and remotest barangays in the country to enable productivity for Filipinos is the very core of the Foundation’s existence,” OMF President Jeffrey Tarayao concluded.