Kalinaw News: TO LIGHT, NOT TO FIGHT: Soldiers deliver solar streetlights to Mt. Province

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jan 6, 2022): TO LIGHT, NOT TO FIGHT: Soldiers deliver solar streetlights to Mt. Province



Camp Aquino, Tarlac City – January 6, 2022

Absence of light is a powerful trigger of a both real and imagined type of fear. For the people of Barangay Sacasacan, Sadanga, Mountain Province, they just simply learned to live in a world petrified in darkness when night time comes. Until the long wait is over and finally, a glimpse of light.

Troops from the 54th Infantry Battalion under the Joint Task Force (JTF) Tala delivered seven (7) units of solar streetlights with integrated solar power generator system in Barangay Sacasacan, Sadanga, Mountain Province on December 19, 2021.

According to Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Costelo, Acting Commander of the Northern Luzon Command (NoLCom), the solar streetlights were donated by the Women Institute for Social Entrepreneurship, Inc. and SUNSMART Solar Power Technology, Inc. The stakeholders formally turned-over the solar streetlights from SUNSMART Solar Power Technology, Inc. in Mabalacat, Pampanga to Headquarters NoLCom in Camp Aquino, Tarlac City on December 14, 2021.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines in partnership with stakeholders, are embarking on a project that will literally bring light to communities across the nation. The said donation was made possible through the project of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) under the National Security Council wherein they will provide solar power to barangays cleared from Communist terrorist groups,” Maj. Gen. Costelo added.

In a statement from Brig. Gen. Santiago Enginco, Commander of 503rd Infantry Brigade which covers the area of Mt. Province, said that the troops of the 54th Infantry Battalion led by Liet.Col. Franz Josef Diamante ensured that the donations safely arrived at their destination. “Five of the solar streetlights are installed and are already being used by the community,” Brig. Gen. Enginco stated.

The locals of Brgy Sacasacan expressed their immense gratitude to the donors for bringing light to their communities, and the military for freeing them from the threats posed by the Communist terrorists, and ensuring that lasting peace, security, and development is attainable.

“The provision of solar streetlights lessened the hardships of the people in our barangay during night time especially the farmers who are always coming home late at night. These newly-installed streetlights provided additional safety by putting visual assistance at night to easily spot issues, or identify individuals roaming around the vicinity especially to our barangay tanods who are just using flash lights before in patrolling the area. Thus, making it more convenient to maintain peace and order in our barangay” said Mr. Thomas Pang-ay, the Barangay Captain of Sacasacan, Sadanga, Mt. Province.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Laurence Mina, Commander of the JTF Tala said that the project is part of the government’s efforts to improve the facilities and living conditions of the communities that were once disturbed by the threats of the Communist terrorists.

Maj. Gen. Costelo thanked the stakeholders for their ardent desire to extend assistance to the people of Brgy. Sacasacan.

“We are grateful for the overwhelming support of the Women Institute for Social Entrepreneurship, Inc. and SUNSMART Solar Power Technology, Inc. The generous donation signifies our shared aspirations to help the Filipino people realize our vision of a peaceful and progressive region,” said Maj. Gen. Costelo.

“Our positive ties with other peace-builders have come a long way. May we continue to solidify our bond as we move towards reaching our common goal of sustaining progress and prosperity in our community. This kind of project is geared towards the creation of healthy and peaceful communities. Maj. Gen. Costelo ended.

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