Koronadal, South Cotabato (23 October) -- ARMM Governor Zaldy Puti U. Ampatuan led the simultaneous switching on of lights in all 180 electrified barangays in the Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on October 20, 2006 in time for the observance of the Lailatul Qadar (Night Power).

Known as the First Mindanao Light Festival, ARMM Governor Ampatuan led the officials in Maguindanao Province in the switching on at his office at Shariff Aguak, while the switching on in the provinces was led by the respective Governors in the area.

AMORE which has been energizing remote communities since 2002, has electrified 180 barangays or more than 5,500 households, almost 200 community centers lighted, and almost 400 streetlights were installed in the ARMM area. In the Province of Basilan 29 barangays has been electrified, Maguindanao 56, Sulu 25 and 74 barangays in Tawi-tawi.

AMORE IEC Coordinator Ms. Cecile Rodriguez, said that in every barangay there are 30 households or a total of 5,550 households have now access and enjoying the project.

Electrifying remote communities in the region is a project of the Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy Program (AMORE) and its partners, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Philippine Department of Energy, Migrant Philippines Foundation, Inc. Winrock International and the ARMM. The vision of these institutions is to promote peace and progress in Mindanao by energizing poor, remote, conflict-affected communities that can not be connected to the powergrid with reliable and affordable stand-alone renewable energy system such as solar and microhydro.

Ampatuan in his earlier statements said that under his leadership, he will carry out comprehensive rehabilitation programs for post conflict areas and efforts will be stepped up for as more regional and local government interaction and collaboration for the welfare of the people in the region.

“We shall bring the regional government closer to our people, connecting them through giving the basic services and infrastructures like lighting their households and their communities that will signal a brighter future for the region, Ampatuan disclosed.