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Reliable electricity is transforming hospitals in some of the country’s most power-challenged provinces, strengthening medical services, protecting lives, and anchoring climate-resilient development. In many parts of Basilan and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), electricity is not simply a convenience. It is the difference between life and loss, between a functioning operating room and a silent one. Recent solar power initiatives across district and provincial hospitals are now reshaping that reality, delivering stable energy to facilities long burdened by outages, fuel costs, and grid instability.
Power Where It Matters Most
In Basilan, the Sumisip District Hospital (SDH) has formally switched on its P8-million solar power project, marking a major milestone for healthcare delivery in the province. The system guarantees a continuous electricity supply, especially during frequent power disruptions from the Basilan Electric Cooperative (Baselco). For a hospital serving Sumisip and nearby towns, uninterrupted power means safer procedures, protected equipment, and faster medical response times.
According to Basilan Provincial Health Officer Dr. Shariffa Ann Abbas Alvarez, the project was funded through the province’s 20 percent development fund and went beyond solar panels alone. It also included the rehabilitation of the hospital’s electrical wiring, ensuring that the energy upgrade translated into real operational reliability.
The impact was evident during the inspection and “lights on” ceremony led by Governor Mujiv Hataman, who inspected the hospital’s laboratory, operating rooms, and other power-dependent facilities.
The momentum does not stop in Sumisip. Hataman confirmed that Lamitan District Hospital is next in line to become fully solar-energized, signaling a wider push to embed renewable energy into Basilan’s healthcare system. At the same time, Sumisip District Hospital is being prepared for an upgrade to Level 1 status by 2026, while Maluso General Hospital is slated to open its doors in the third quarter of that same year. These developments fall under Basilan HELPS, the governor’s flagship program, where health stands alongside environmental protection as a core pillar.
(Also read: CUMC Becomes First Mindanao Hospital Fully Powered by Renewable Energy)
Global Partnerships, Local Impact
In Lanao del Sur, a parallel story is unfolding—one shaped by international cooperation and long-term energy planning. The Tamparan Provincial Hospital, located in an area historically challenged by isolation and power instability, has also emerged as a model for renewable energy integration in healthcare.
Through the support of the Japanese government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the hospital has been equipped with a solar energy-generating system designed to sustain round-the-clock operations. The system was launched on December 4, led by UNDP Philippines representative Knut Ostby and BARMM Health Minister Kadil Sinolinding Jr., who is also a physician-ophthalmologist.
The initiative is part of a broader commitment by UNDP, Japan, and the Ministry of Health-BARMM to roll out similar systems in other facilities, including hospitals and infirmaries in Marawi City, Wao, and Malabang. A combined allocation of P9.3 million from the two foreign donors covers the projects, with the Bangsamoro health ministry providing counterpart support for labor.
(Also read: Mindanao Courts Global Capital for Clean Energy and Digital Growth)
For hospital leadership and staff, the benefits are immediate and deeply human. Sinolinding highlighted, “We can save the lives of our sick constituents, hasten their recovery from illnesses via a non-stop operation of these medical facilities, energized by solar power provided by the United Nations Development Programme and the government of Japan.”
Beyond the equipment and infrastructure, the continued backing of Japan, UNDP, and other UN agencies is an endorsement of BARMM’s governance and peace-building efforts—affirming that energy security and health outcomes are inseparable from long-term regional stability.
Tamparan Provincial Hospital’s solar journey did not begin overnight. Since 2023, the facility has steadily expanded its renewable energy capacity. The latest milestone is the installation of a 40-kilowatt-peak (kWp) hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) system under the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Access for Climate Security and Health Services (RE3ACHS) Project.
Ansari Gandamra, chair of the Energy Committee and provincial board member, spoke on behalf of Governor Mamintal Adiong. “Reliable power is not just an infrastructure concern—it is a lifeline,” she noted. “For hospitals, it means uninterrupted medical services safe for childbirth, proper storage for medicine, and the ability of our health frontliners to deliver urgent care without fear of power loss.”
The new system builds on earlier installations: a 23kWp hybrid solar PV system completed in 2023 with support from the Global Environment Facility, and a 50kW hybrid system set up in September, sponsored by the BARMM Ministry of Health. Together, these investments have significantly reduced reliance on diesel generators, generating estimated annual savings of P2 million while cutting emissions and improving service reliability.
Solar expansion is also reaching other health facilities in Lanao del Sur, including Dr. Serapio B. Montañer Jr. Al-Haj Memorial Hospital in Malabang, Wao District Hospital, and the provincial infirmary in Marawi City. With battery storage systems in place, these hybrid PV installations ensure dependable power for vaccine refrigeration, emergency rooms, birthing facilities, blood banks, and pediatric wards—serving an estimated 40,000 households within their coverage areas.
In a recorded message, Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya emphasized the broader significance of the partnership. “This gathering stands as a clear testament of our shared effort for BARMM’s progress. Energy efficiency is vital for the pursuit of progress,” he said. “A safe energy source is a fundamental necessity in our time. It is my hope this partnership will bring timely support and relief in this critical sector.”
Sources:
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/sumisip-district-hospital-activates-solar-power-project
