THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority has installed a solar power project at a remote village in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato which had no electricity for seven decades.

Rafael Abrogar II, TESDA-Region 12 director, said all 250 households in Sitio Blit in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu can now enjoy basic electricity services.

“Residents of Sitio Blit endured over seven decades of darkness at night, which was made worse by their remote location and inaccessible roads. That has now changed,” Abrogar said.

He said that TESDA installed 150 photovoltaic system kits to complete the energization of the village under its Project TALA or “TESDA Alay Ay Liwanag at Asenso.”

TALA aims to provide solar energy in far-flung villages where regular electricity distribution lines have not yet reached.

Sitio Blit, inhabited by Tboli and Manobo tribes, was chosen by TESDA last year as a pilot area of Project TALA.

Abrogar said the energization of the village is just the start and more interventions will be given to residents in the coming months.

“TESDA, in coordination with its partners, had conducted a series of training in the area since last year on PV system installation and maintenance as part of the project,” he said.

“An initial 100 PV system kits were distributed and installed by the residents, who were also provided with livelihood training and other support assistance from various government agencies,” he added.