Talisay to Provide Solar Panels to Poor Families

● Mayor’s “Stream of Light” program aims to light each households in the city, including those in the mountain barangays.

The Talisay City government is set to provide solar energy panels to households in the remote areas who cannot afford to have electricity connections.

Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes said this is part of the city’s “Stream of Light” program that aims to light each households in the city, including those in the mountain barangays.

“Kung wa tay suga, kaluoy gyud kung magabii way hayag,” he said.

There are still several households, specially in the mountain barangays, that don’t have electricity yet, de los Reyes said.

He said there are families who just can’t afford the connection fee for electricity and if they can, they will forever be burdened by the monthly power dues. He said that with this, he is planning on providing these families with solar panels.

“Nindot na kay wa na sila’y bayranan. Kung naa man gani, gamay nalang kaayo. Para sa maintenance lang,” said de los Reyes.

The mayor said he is worried that this plan will be blocked by the council.

“Ampo lang gyud ta’s Ginoo nga tabangan ta ani atong mga proyekto alang sa kabus. Ug sa council pud nga unta, dili nila babagan kay kuno sige lang og sa kabus. Kung tan-awon gyud nimo, daghan pa gihapon ang mga kabus sa Talisay. Mao bitaw’ng nakadaug ta, tungod nila,” he said.

The past months, City Council has been blocking the projects of de los Reyes and questioned those already being implemented.

For his part, de los Reyes said what he is only following what his predecessor, former Mayor and now councilor Socrates Fernandez, did in his time. De los Reyes blamed it all to “politics,” but appealed to the council to back his projects and assured that once they are completed, they can take over as mayor of the city.

“Og mahuman lang ni tanang project nga akong gisaad sa mga tawo, sila napuy mayor,” he said.

De los Reyes said one contractor has also offered a proposal to build a solar-powered plant in Talisay City. “That, too, will become another source of energy to the city”, he said.