The Department of Energy has identified a total of 451 households in Negros Oriental to become beneficiaries of the Solar Homes program.
The households are located in 16 different sub-villages in the municipalities of Pamplona, Siaton and Santa Catalina and Tanjay City that have no access to electricity.
Lou Arciaga, information officer of DOE, said the identified Solar Homes will receive one solar panel, four LED lights with built-in AM-FM radio. The unit is capable to serve at least 30 watts peak load which is only suitable for lighting but not for appliances.
Arciaga said the LED light provides a brighter illumination but use up very minimal power.
Each unit, costing P23,000, will be given for free.
Arciaga said the beneficiaries will be properly briefed on the maintenance of the solar panel that has a lifespan of 25 to 30 years. The deep cycle battery, on the other hand, is only good for two to three years, depending on the usage.
The solar panels will be distributed by the third quarter of 2011 after all the requirements are completed. (PNA/Maricar Aranas)