MANILA, Aug. 9 — Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi and other energy officials attending the ongoing Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Panglao, Bohol assembled 100 solar-powered lamps under the guidance of local grade-schoolers and donated them to Boholano families on Tuesday.

The lamps were given to 100 families in the islands of Balicasag, Pamilacan and mainland Panglao, including the families of 34 students from Lourdes Elementary School in Panglao as beneficiaries.

The 34 Grades V and VI students along with the 12 chosen Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) teachers around Bohol were earlier taught how to convert the kerosene lamps into solar and battery powered lamps, and shared what they learned to delegates as part of the ACD’s Liter of Light: Solar Build Workshop held at the Be Grand Hotel in Panglao Island.

Cusi, as head of delegation of the host country, soldered and assembled the electronic parts of the solar lamp with guidance from Grade VI student Christopher Abellana and Grade V student Honey Lee Mijares together with Liter of Light founder Illac Diaz and TLE Teacher Gil Adame of La Hacienda High School in Alicia Bohol.

“What we are doing here among the kids is creating consciousness on the importance of energy for our economic growth,” Cusi said during the workshop.

“The Liter of Light has done several projects already and now we are collaborating with them to promote alternative energy technologies so we can share these options to other communities nationwide. There are other initiatives that are being undertaken, hindi lang itong Liter of Light, but this is the most viable na tinitingnan namin bilang option,” said Cusi.

The workshop served as a great a venue for the students to learn and explore new things that they can share to their families, peers and community, according to the DOE Secretary.

He added that the workshop served to give the people and the youth “Power of Choice” in using energy efficiently and effectively.

The lamps also symbolized the giving of light or hope for the realization of dreams and for coping with outage during disasters that affect energy supply.

“With these kinds of projects, the power is already within their hands,” Cusi said.

The DOE hosted the three-day ACD, which tackled energy security, sustainability and resiliency among Asian countries. (PR/PNA)