‘Liter of Light’ Brightens 200 Houses in Lahug

After 11 years of living in darkness, residents of Laguera, Busay Hill Cebu City, finally had their light source after non-profit interest group, Liter of Lights, lighted 200 houses in the said village Wednesday.

One resident, Gloria Tuico, 56, narrated her happiness after receiving the help from the global open source movement.

“Nalipay dyud mi nga mahatagan mi og suga diri sa amoa kay dili na mi maglisod og lihok tungod kay ngitngit” she said.

Tuico added the lighting in their community eases their worries as children can now walk in lighted road.

“Karon dili na ko mabalaka sa akoang mga anak nga maabtan og gabie sa dalan kay naa nay suga sa ilahang agianan ug makatuon na sila sa balay kay naa na mi suga.” said Tuico.

Tuico and her family has been living in the village for four years without light.

Lampost

A total of 400 solar powered bottle lamposts and lighted bottles were turn over by the group to the community,where the number of lighted bottles per houses depends on the number of the household.

One bottle of liter of light costs P600 to P700 before it assembles completely.

Engineer Efren Barabat, USJR faculty who trained the volunteers in making the light source, said its power can last for 8 hours, starting at 6 pm to 2 am, and automatically charges itself at sunrise.

“Igo ra dyud nga mumata ang mga tawo before ni siya mapawong kay magsugod man ni og siga kung wala nay adlaw hangtod kadlawon, 8 hours mani… Unya inig buntag automatic na ni siya mu-charge kay i-absorb na niya ang sunlight kung walay adlaw.” Barabat said.

He added “bisag gamay nga init iya dyud na i-absorb ug makasiga gihapon siya, apan dili kusog kaayo ang siga kay nagdepend rani siya sa kakusog sa adlaw.”

Liter of Light

Liter of Light is a global open source movement with the aim to provide an ecologically and economically sustainable source of light to underprivileged households that could hardly have access to electricity or are unable to afford it.

Liter of light project is solar powered. It is made up of bottles, either plastic or glass, with assembled solar battery to store sunlight.

It is filled with water to create a prism that captures light which it disperses to illuminate one specific place.

Lighted area using solar powered bottles in Laguerta Village. (Photo by Mary Jane Catriz)

Plan for the Whole Country

Actor-model Illac Diaz, head of Liter of Light movement said they are planning to bring the project nationwide.

“We’re planning to bring light not only to specific places but also to the whole country because it is also in line to the advocacy against climate change. This is safer than any lights because it is natural.” Diaz said.

Gratitude

Cebu Mayor Mike Rama has expressed his gratitude to Liter of Light organization for choosing the village to be their project’s first beneficiary.

“When he (Diaz) said to me about this project, I immediately gave him my permission to pursue it because I know it is very helpful to the village and I always look forward for a better Cebu City which his project support a better living for Cebuanos.” Mayor Rama said when Diaz turned over the gift of light to the village.

No Light for 11 years

Villagers said they had no light for 11 years due to inaccessibility and inadequacy of electrical service.

Photo above: Frm. R-L: Dr. Virgilio Y. Abellana, USJR Enginnering Dept. Dean; Collin Rosell, Executive Assistant of the Office of the Mayor; Illac Diaz, Liter of light head; Mayor Michael Rama and Vice mayor Edgardo Labella of Cebu City (Photo by Mary Jane Catriz)