Project Beacon to light up 1,026 rural communities

As part of ongoing public service to literally "light up the countryside," the Department of Energy’s Accelerated Barangay Electrification Program, or more commonly known as the O-Ilaw program, has been providing electrification to remote barangays across the country since 1999.

The O-Ilaw program is a multisectoral approach to rural electrification which aims to provide basic energy service toward increased livelihood activities in the countryside.

It seeks to ensure 95 percent energization by 2004 and 100 percent electrification by 2006.

Heeding the call of the government to support the O-Ilaw program, Mirant Phils., through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm, Mirant Phils. Foundation, has set up its flagship program called Project Beacon (or the Barangay Electrification Assistance to the Countryside).

Project Beacon is the product of a decade of close partnership between the government and Mirant Phils. initially to solve the country’s worsening power supply in the early 1990s and now the electrification of remote areas. It aims to catalyze growth and development that will help the Philippines become more progressive.

Set to energize 1,026 barangays, Project Beacon has been accomplishing more than it is required at the fastest rate possible. Mirant Phils. Foundation has been energizing eight barangays per day.

Problems with shipping of raw materials and contractors, including irregular rainfall, have been cited as the biggest challenges to the project. With a whopping budget of P1 billion, Project Beacon intends to address the core problem of rural development.

Project Beacon covers mostly the eastern side of the country, with Albay composed of 129 barangays being the largest area. Started last January, it is almost complete and is set to provide full electrification by the middle of next month.

Project Beacon is one of the largest CSR initiatives benefiting 33 provinces and 44 cooperatives with at least 300,000 households nationwide.

Because of this, Project Beacon, together with the O-Ilaw program, targets to continue its effort in improving the countryside by providing ample energy sources to spur economic activities in the rural areas.