Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

HEADLINES

Globe Telecom, PEF, Solar Energy Foundation light up Arakan Valley

Women with young kids in tow painstakingly trudged the long, rolling terrain from central Tumanding to Sitio Bagtak for more than an hour. They were among the initial 66 recipients of solar lamps distributed by Globe Telecom and its partners, Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and Solar Energy Foundation.

It was just a simple portable solar lamp but the happiness it brought to families in far-flung Brgy. Tumanding in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato cannot be measured. Women with young kids in tow painstakingly trudged the long, rolling terrain from central Tumanding to Sitio Bagtak for more than an hour. They were among the initial 66 recipients of solar lamps distributed by Globe Telecom and its partners, Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and Solar Energy Foundation.

Globe

Unmindful of the grueling walk along slippery gravel roads, these women were at the site early, eager to finally leave behind the dim, flickering light of oil lamps which were their lone companion for all these years.

For Rosalyn Calatao, a 33-year old mother of three, the solar lamp brings a promise of better life for her family.

“It’s so hard to do anything when there’s no light. The children can no longer study once darkness settles in. But with the solar lamp, they can already answer their homework anytime. I can also be more productive even at night. This makes us very happy,” she said in the vernacular.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Calatao’s words were echoed by her cousin and namesake Rosalyn Masanguid who at age 23 is already a mother to a three-year old girl. For Masanguid, the solar lamp makes taking care of her child a lot easier aside from being safer since it eliminates the risk of starting a fire or causing burns from unattended oil lamps.

Brgy. Tumanding is not really in an off-grid area but to have access to electricity, one has to pay a P5,000 installation fee aside from the monthly service fee of about P400-P800, an amount which the farming community of about 800 people cannot afford.

This situation prompted Globe and PEF in cooperation with Solar Energy Foundation to help the community, initially by providing solar lamps to the households of Bantay Gubat, a group of tribal people which protects the habitat of the Philippine Eagle.

Last year, Globe partnered with PEF on its forest corridor development program in Arakan to restore wildlife habitats through rain forestation on grasslands along the forest corridor between the mountains of Mahuson, Sinaka and Kabalantiian-Binoongan-Kulaman (KABIKU) in Arakan Valley as well as provide assistance to its community partners with the end-goal of preserving the breeding places of the Philippine Eagle.

“We are doing the best we can to serve the communities which take care of the Philippine Eagle habitat. We believe that by improving their lives, they will also be more encouraged to get involved in various conservation initiatives in Arakan,” said Fernando Esguerra, OIC, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The solar lamps work from four hours of continuous use under maximum setting to as long as 100 hours under bedtime setting. They can also be used to charge mobile phones, thereby, eliminating additional expenses to the family of P5 per charge.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Like Us On Facebook

You May Also Like

HEADLINES

This collaboration enhances Globe Business’ portfolio and introduces Hexnode’s advanced UEM features to businesses across the region.

HEADLINES

"Courage to Transform" is a mindset that empowers businesses to break barriers, embrace change, and make bold decisions for long-term success. True transformation takes vision...

HEADLINES

This move underscores Globe's commitment to expanding its services to meet the evolving needs of its customers, particularly the significant Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)...

HEADLINES

Valero Telepark, which houses data equipment and technical offices, distinguished itself for its energy conservation efforts, driven by Globe’s strategic collaboration with US-based technology...

HEADLINES

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) Philippines has reached a sustainability milestone by transitioning to 100% renewable energy across all its operational data centers...

HEADLINES

In 2024, Globe blocked 3,096 child pornography domains or those containing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM), a slight increase from 3,047 domains restricted...

HEADLINES

This performance was fueled by a 4% hike in mobile revenues, totaling a record ₱116.7 billion, and a record ₱20.4 billion in corporate data...

HEADLINES

Senator Mark Villar recently filed a resolution seeking a senate inquiry on the trade of International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, which allow fraudsters...

Advertisement