Solar bottle bulbs light Metro barangays

MANILA, Philippines - The My Shelter Foundation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Rotary Club yesterday turned over 11,000 solar bulbs to 30 Metro Manila communities that lack access to electricity.

The distribution of solar bulbs is in line with the “Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light),” a project that seeks to provide sustainable lighting to underprivileged communities nationwide.

Personnel from the Rotary Club International District 3830, My Shelter Foundation and AFP brought the solar bulbs to certain barangays in San Juan City, Que­zon City, Manila, Caloocan City, Taguig City and Makati City.

Illac Diaz, executive director of My Shelter Foundation, said they want to set a world record for the biggest grassroots green-lighting program.

“We want to do something that we can show to the world. We want this to be the first massive installation of solar bulbs,” Diaz told The STAR in a phone interview.

The AFP National Capital Region Command claimed that about 11,000 solar bulbs had been installed yesterday. Organizers of the project, however, are still awaiting the independent assessment of the Guinness Book of World Records.

 Rotary, AFP and mass volunteers took part in the counting and loading of the bottle-bulbs.

The solar bulbs require basic materials like plastic bottles of 1.5 liter soda, chlorine, salt and water. The bulbs, which would capture sunlight, would be sealed on roofs using a metal sheet. Each bulb is capable of illuminating an entire room equivalent to a 55-watt electric bulb.

Shelly Lazaro, president of the Rotary Club of Makati San Lorenzo, said installing the bulbs would allow housewives to work on their domestic chores. She said the ultimate goal of the project is to illuminate 10 million homes by 2012.

At least five barangays in San Juan City are among the beneficiaries of these solar powered bulbs.

Mayor Guia Gomez said that aside from saving money, fires would be prevented because residents need not install illegal electrical connections commonly known as “jumpers” or use candles to light their homes.

“We are lucky that our five barangays, namely Corazon de Jesus, St. Joseph, Isabelita, Batis and Salapan were chosen to be the beneficiary-communities of this very significant project Isang Litrong Liwanag.  I am sure this will be significant and beneficial not only to the families’ economy but also to our environment,” Gomez said.

“We are also privileged to have this event coincide with our special celebration of Bonifacio Day. Gat Andres Bonifacio, the Father of the Katipunan, who led the uprising against the Spaniards for the Philippine Independence during the battle occurred here in San Juan City, more popularly known as Pinaglabanan,” she said.– With Non Alquitran