Solar Week Mindanao 2023, a week-long knowledge and information extravaganza about Solar for Mindanaoans, begins Monday, World Environment Day, June 5, 2023.
Solar Week is the flagship event of the Mindanao Goes Solar movement (MGSM) and features a local exhibit of solar suppliers in both Davao City and Cagayan de Oro in 2023, while continuing its tradition of an online broadcast of discussions and interviews on important solar information.
Mindanao, which is yet to achieve 100% electrification, is best to benefit from solar and other renewable energy technologies to bring power to its unelectrified communities. This move will also help the country in achieving climate adaptation and mitigation goals, plus inclusive and sustainable development not only for Mindanaons but the entire country.
Last year, Solar Week, was purely online due to pandemic restrictions but was participated by distinguished guests discussing important topics, including Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Deputy Executive Director, Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro who shared about the Mindanao Energy Plan which the agency intends as a reference for renewable energy projects in the region, including for solar.
“It is projected that several hundred gigawatts of electricity is going to be derived from solar in the next 50 years. The question is, where is Mindanao and where is the Philippines in that very important contribution?” asks Montenegro at his keynote in 2022. “There’s going to be bumps and humps along the way but our march towards a full transition to clean energy is going to be possible if altogether we work as one,” Montenegro adds.
It is with this message of collaboration that the Mindanao Goes Solar movement designed its Solar Week programming in 2023. Viewers of the knowledge event online broadcast will get to know the Mindanao Renewable Energy Advocacy and Coordination Hub (MinREACH) which is a new alliance between the government, private sector, academe and non-profit organizations working on renewable energy. This happens during Mindanao Monday. Technical Tuesday serves as a learning session with several Mindanao-centered citizens of the Netherlands. This country is currently Europe’s leader in solar. Woke Wednesday features an innovative partnership seeking to accomplish renewable energy planning at the sub-national level courtesy of the world’s largest conservation organization, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). Thrifty Thursday will showcase one of the most sought-after topics of MGSM followers: Solar Financing. On this day, representatives from the Pag-ibig home development loan will discuss its Home Improvement loan which now allows for solar installations for Filipino homeowners. On Feel-good Friday, viewers will witness parts of the local event of international organization New Energy Nexus for their goal of 100% clean energy for 100% of the population in the shortest time possible. It is doing so in Cagayan de Oro by connecting with partners able to augment the local solar industry.
Watch the live broadcast on Facebook and YouTube and visit the exhibits in Ayala Abreeza mall in Davao and Ayala Centrio in Cagayan de Oro. The exhibit runs on mall hours also from June 5-9, 2023 while the broadcast starts at 3pm each day from June 5-9 and will continue to be available over social media channels of the movement. ###
