MARAWI CITY — Solar power is driving a quiet transformation in a province long challenged by unstable electricity and limited healthcare services.
On March 25, 2026, government leaders, development partners, and healthcare workers gathered at the Provincial Social Hall in Marawi City to mark the culmination of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Access to Climate Security and Health Services (RE3ACHS) project.
The initiative installs hybrid solar photovoltaic systems in four hospitals: Dr. Serafio B. Montañer Al-Haj Memorial Hospital, Tamparan Provincial Hospital, Wao District Hospital, and Ranaw Provincial Infirmary—ensuring reliable electricity for life-saving medical services.
For years, hospitals in Lanao del Sur struggled with frequent power outages that disrupted surgeries, vaccine storage, and emergency response. With solar power, health facilities are now moving toward uninterrupted operations and lower fuel costs.
“Nearly half of our maintenance and operating expenses go to fuel due to power outages,” said Dra. Hanipha Madale Montañer, chief of Dr. Serafio B. Montañer Al-Haj Memorial Hospital. “Solar energy will help us reduce costs while ensuring continuous life-saving services.”
Wao District Hospital chief Dr. Asnawi Dalidig said reliable electricity is critical as the hospital expands from 50 to 100 beds.
“In surgery, there can be no interruptions,” he said. “Stable power ensures we can continue critical procedures even during outages.”
Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. described the project as a lifeline for communities and part of a broader push toward an energy-secure and climate-resilient province.
Funded by the Government of Japan through the Climate Promise Global Initiative and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project installed 271-kWp hybrid solar PV systems across four hospitals, worth about $1.5 million.
Officials said the initiative not only strengthens healthcare services but also demonstrates how renewable energy can support sustainable and inclusive development in vulnerable communities.
