A 60-kilowatt-peak (kWp) hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) system was formally handed over to the municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, on Feb. 27 through a ceremonial Deed of Donation signing held at the Guiuan Municipal Hall grounds.
The installation was made possible through a partnership with the Philippine-based NGO Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC).
The 60-kWp hybrid PV system represents the maximum power output of the solar panel system under ideal conditions.
This capacity is sufficient to power approximately 36 to 40 average Filipino rural households, assuming an average monthly consumption of 200 kWh per household.
Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol highlighted the benefits of the system, stating, “A 60-kWp hybrid solar can help the municipality save on energy costs, allowing the savings to be used for other social services for its constituents. Through this installation, we will see the proof of the concept of having the power to choose our own electricity supply.”
Guiuan, located at the southernmost tip of Samar Island in the central Philippines, is frequently exposed to extreme weather conditions, including typhoons, flooding, and rising temperatures, as well as slow-onset events like sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. The municipality also faces frequent power outages and high energy costs.
“There are 365 days in a year, but the brownouts might reach 500 [occurrences],” said Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan of Guiuan.
Mayor Gonzales-Kwan emphasized the significance of the project, saying, “Guiuan is the largest municipality in Eastern Samar, and this project will inspire many others to see that it’s possible. This collaboration between ICSC and the municipality of Guiuan shows the power of partnership built on a shared vision, mutual trust, and a deep understanding of the needs of the community. It’s a game changer.”
This initiative marks ICSC’s largest PV system installation project in the Eastern Visayas region. Angelo Kairos dela Cruz, Executive Director of ICSC, expressed hope that the project would inspire further efforts.
“Our partnership with Guiuan goes beyond the solarization of the Guiuan municipal hall rooftop. This milestone is a signal of systemic changes that will serve as an example of how climate-resilient development can be achieved through our local champions,” dela Cruz said.
The turnover ceremony also included a memorial signing, joined by key stakeholders, including Mayor Gonzales-Kwan, Executive Director dela Cruz, DOE Assistant Secretary Capongcol, Eastern Samar Vice Governor Maria Caridad Goteesan, Sulong Sulu-an Women’s Association President Alma Latina, and Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO) General Manager Jose Michael Edwin Amancio. Together, they pledged their commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions in Guiuan.
The commitment focuses on five initiatives under Guiuan’s Just Energy Transition Agenda, including accelerating renewable energy adoption and promoting community-led energy solutions to improve energy security and affordability.
“We are not just switching on a new energy source for the municipal hall building. We are igniting a transformative journey for our beloved town towards sustainability, resilience, and progress,” said Rectito Melquiades, Guiuan Sangguniang Bayan Secretary.
“As we power up the solar PV system, we take another significant step towards more sustainable and self-reliant energy solutions for the benefit of our communities, economy, and environment.”
The memorandum of agreement for the hybrid solar PV installation was signed in October 2024 between ICSC and the local government of Guiuan, represented by Executive Director dela Cruz and Mayor Gonzales-Kwan.
Following the turnover ceremony, the hybrid PV system will undergo a one-month testing period before becoming fully operational. ICSC is also preparing to roll out similar initiatives in the region, including the turnover of another hybrid PV system in Paranas, Samar, in March.
