Alternative lighting technology introduced using sustainable materials

MANILA, Philippines - The Bataan Shipping and Engineering Company (Baseco) Compound, a reclaimed area in Tondo, Manila, is a place that is not new to hardship.

The area was formerly used for shipping operations like ship repair and loading. Today, the 52-hectare land is home to more than 6,000 Filipino families living in makeshift housing and shanties. It is home to one of Manila’s largest depressed colonies.

Most residents in the area do not have power and would resort to using candles and kerosene lamps to light up their homes. Because most of the shanties in the area are made of light materials and built are so close to each other, an open flame can cause devastation in the area, claiming lives and what meager property that residents possess. Others would resort to illegal means to acquire electricity. Fires caused by overloading electrical facilities are also a common occurrence.  

Because of this, many Baseco residents live in the dark and are always on the brink of danger.

To address such concerns, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Local Government of the City of Manila, in cooperation with MyShelter Foundation, Inc. (MSFI), have joined hands to bring a different kind of light to the residents of Baseco Compound through the “Isang Litrong Liwanag – The Solar Bottle Bulb project.”

Leading the event, highlighted by the turnover ceremonies last April 14, were Manila City Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Customer Retail Services and Corporate Communication Alfredo S. Panlilio and MyShelter Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Illac Diaz.

Using common household materials and readily available chemicals, the solar bottle bulb project is a ground-breaking campaign of MSFI that aims to provide economically and ecologically sustainable sources of light for households, schools and other infrastructures across the country.

The solar bottle bulb is made of a small sheet of galvanized iron and a two-liter plastic bottle filled with a solution of water, salt and chlorine that can gather and amplify sunlight. When installed on roofs, the solar bottle bulb allows the sun’s rays to be refracted inside the house.

The bottle filled with the water solution acts as lens and provides tremendous amount of interior light, which is equivalent to 55 watts during daytime, without using electricity. According to MSFI, a solar bottle bulb can last up to five years before growing dim, in which case, you simply have to replace the water solution.

Meralco donated over 2,000 solar bottle bulbs to Baseco Compound. Meralco also provided for the needed tools and materials in addition to providing the training for personnel who will do the installation. The City of Manila Engineering Office facilitated the installation in the residents’ homes.

According to Meralco, the application of the solar bottle bulb technology is very appropriate for depressed areas like Baseco Compound.

First off, the materials used in making solar bottle bulbs are very inexpensive and are readily available. The eco-friendly implements can be easily installed using common household tools like wire cutters and hammers. With the proper equipment and training, the installation of the solar bottle bulb can be very easy and the homeowners themselves can assemble and install the bottles.

Meralco added that the solar bottle bulb is also very practical as it offers homeowners an alternative source of light during daytime, providing them more savings on their electricity bills. For households in depressed areas, such savings on lighting can mean additional money that the family can allocate for other needs.

The use of solar bottle bulbs in the Baseco area may also significantly contribute in ensuring the safety of the residents. Meralco said that most of the houses in the area are usually made of light materials and are closely built that residents need to light up their homes even during daytime due to the lack of natural lighting.

Meralco has been a known advocate of environmental programs including the promotion and use of recyclable and eco-friendly materials. The “Isang Litrong Liwanag Project” is the company’s way of showing its support and commitment to the environment. The event is around a week away from the celebration of Earth Day on April 22.

With the “Isang Litrong Liwanag Project,” residents of Baseco Compound can now live in a new light.