A 25-kilowatt solar power facility is now operating in off-grid Matabas Island in Sagay City to support safe water access, community lighting, charging stations, and public facilities through the REPower Matabas Project.
The project was formally commissioned on Monday, June 8, in time for World Ocean Day.
Joshua Villalobos, secretary-general of the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment, said the facility includes a 12-kilowatt hybrid solar system for the water desalination facility, an 8-kilowatt hybrid solar rooftop system for the school, and a 5-kilowatt system for the church.
The project also includes battery energy storage, 70 solar-powered streetlights, and charging stations for the island community.
Villalobos said Matabas is among the off-grid island communities that are not included in the electrification plan of NONECO.
He said the project does not only provide clean energy but also responds to the development needs identified by the community itself.
“The community is the expert of its own development needs,” Villalobos said.
He added that Matabas Island is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, making renewable energy and safe water access important for its resilience.
The project powers a solar-powered water desalination facility, community charging stations, public streetlights, and solar-powered lighting systems for the island chapel and educational facilities.
For generations, residents of the island fishing community have relied on limited and costly sources of electricity while facing challenges in accessing potable water.
The project was implemented by NICE with support from the Honnold Foundation, which was established by world-renowned rock climber and environmental advocate Alex Honnold.
Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela, now provincial consultant for environment and energy, said the project is part of the broader push of the provincial government toward renewable energy transition.
He said Matabas could become an ideal model for community-based renewable energy projects in other remote areas of Negros Occidental.
Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) said water and electricity have long been a dream of Matabas residents.
Marañon also thanked officials, partners, and those who donated land for the desalination facility.
Villalobos said NICE and its partners will also conduct trainings and sessions in the coming months, saying the project is not only about powering facilities but also empowering the community, especially mothers and local residents.*
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