Tapping solar, wind energy

PANEL-POWER --- Chinese engineers put up an experimental streetlight to operate on renewable energy at the vicinity of the Cotabato City Mayor’s Office. (COURTESY OF HALIMA SATOL, CITY INFORMATION OFFICE - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- Local traders welcomed positively the three-day visit here of technocrats from China to disseminate the viability of renewable energy for street lighting and other industrial needs.

Chinese engineers on Tuesday last week installed on three selected spots here streetlights designed to operate only with solar energy using sunlight panels and electricity generated by individual mini-wind turbines.

“Their coming over is something very positive. It will disprove the perception of outsiders that foreign entrepreneurs and capitalists are not safe here in the city,” Sandra Siang, president of the Kutawato Muslim Business Chamber said on Wednesday.

The Chinese technocrats representing the engineering firms Beijing You Sheng, the Shanghai Dianou Industrial Company, and the Sheng Corai Power erected here samples of the streetlights they can produce on large-scale basis for a contract.

Representatives of the three engineering firms arrived here early last week to proceed with their product experiment along with the city government after preliminary discussions with Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi during an official mission to China last year.

Guiani-Sayadi, who is of mixed Maguindanaon-Chinese heritage, was still an appointed city administrator at that time.

“Obviously, she was able to convince them that they are safe here in Cotabato City, unjustly construed as a hostile area,” said merchant Pete Marquez, a member of big business blocs in Central Mindanao, apparently referring to the now mayor Guiani-Sayadi.

Marquez said the initial trade engagement of the three Chinese outfits with the office of the mayor will boost the local investment climate.

Marquez said he is confident the three different types of streetlights erected as a joint experiment will result in a procurement contract.

Halima Satol-Ibrahim, city information officer, said the mayor is planning to procure no fewer than 4,000 units of streetlights if experts in the city government will find the prototypes constructed by Chinese engineers "cost-efficient" and technically durable.

Each of the three model streetlights can be fitted with wireless, transmitter-type surveillance cameras the city government also plans to put up in strategic spots to beef up its domestic security initiatives.

“Engineers in the city government will observe the units erected by our visitors from China and shall come out with recommendations after a certain period of time,” Satol-Ibrahim said. (Contributed by media partner)