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Barangay Cogon in Tineg, Abra, now shines after the rollout of a renewable energy project called “Provision of Renewable Energy-Based Electrification.” The initiative introduced solar-powered lighting to the remote village, marking a major leap toward sustainable progress.
Acting Provincial Director Kristoffer Dave R. Alvarez of DILG-Abra spearheaded the site validation, joined by key officials and stakeholders. Among those present were Engr. Bryan Steve F. Bautista of PEO II, Tineg MLGOO Mark Anthony G. Balanay, and representatives from the Municipal Project Monitoring Committee, Tineg Police, and the Philippine Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion.
Valued at ₱2.5 million, the project brought solar-powered lighting to several areas in Barangay Cogon. A total of 17 units were installed across Cogon Proper, while Sitio Ticleb received three. Meanwhile, Sitios Serwaben and Dalanet were each equipped with two streetlights. The clean power drive officially wrapped up on April 29, 2025, enhancing safety and mobility in these remote communities.
The newly installed solar-powered streetlights have become more than just fixtures—they now stand as symbols of safety, mobility, and sustainability in Barangay Cogon. Already, they’re making a tangible difference, lighting up paths for safer nighttime travel and helping maintain peace and order in the area. To cap off the effort, an exit conference was held to reaffirm commitments and lay the groundwork for the long-term success of the electrification effort.
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Underserved Abra barangays gain from peace-driven projects
In addition to gaining access to solar-powered lighting, Barangay Cogon in Tineg also saw the opening and concreting of a vital road. The upgrades are part of a broader push under the 2024 Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP), which brings infrastructure and essential services to 11 underserved barangays across Abra through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Alvarez highlighted the completion and ongoing SBDP projects valued at nearly ₱80 million. The program serves as a key government effort to drive development in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) while addressing insurgency challenges in rural communities.
Beyond Barangay Cogon, several barangays in Abra are set to benefit from locally prioritized developments. These include upgrading the farm-to-market road linking Sal-lapadan to Barrio, enhancing the FMR in Bazar, Sal-lapadan, and installing a Level II water supply system.
Additionally, a new school building and farm-to-market road are underway in Poblacion, Lacub.
SBDP targets conflict-affected communities once influenced by communist insurgents, focusing on delivering essential development to these areas. As a key component of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the program operates within the broader Whole-of-Nation strategy established by Executive Order No. 70 during President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration to address and resolve local armed conflicts.
(Also read: P96-M Solar Streetlights Boost Nighttime Safety in Agoo)
Expanding RE in the Cordilleras
Abra is also home to a major renewable energy development with JBD Water Power, Inc.’s 200-MW Abra-Kalinga Wind Power Project, located in neighboring Kalinga.
The project is included among five renewable energy developments recently endorsed by the Department of Energy (DOE) for system impact studies (SIS) with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). Approved in April 2025, these studies assess the grid’s ability to integrate new clean energy sources, advancing the country’s shift toward sustainable power.
The other projects include Energy Development Corp.’s 30-MW Botong-Rangas Geothermal Project in Sorsogon; Amihan Power, Inc.’s 80-MW Presentacion 3 Wind Power Project in Camarines Sur; Freya Renewables, Inc.’s 160-MW E.B. Magalona Wind Power Project in Negros Occidental; and PAVI Green Camsur Renewable Energy, Inc.’s 50.1-MWp PAVI Green Naga Solar Power Project, also located in Camarines Sur.
Sources:
https://pia.gov.ph/underserved-abra-villages-benefit-from-anti-insurgency-projects
https://www.bworldonline.com/economy/2025/05/21/674022/5-re-projects-endorsed-for-grid-impact-study/