11/06/2026
Off-Grid Matabas Island Gains Access to Clean Energy and Safe Water Through REPower Matabas
Sagay City, Negros Occidental -- Residents of Matabas Island formally celebrated the commissioning of the REPower Matabas Project bringing solar-powered electricity and access to safe drinking water to one of Negros Occidental's off-grid island communities on Monday, June 8.
Commissioned on World Ocean Day, the project introduces an integrated renewable energy system that powers a solar-powered water desalination facility, community charging stations, public streetlights, and solar-powered lighting systems for the island chapel and educational facilities. The initiative aims to improve access to essential services while strengthening the island's resilience to climate-related challenges.
For generations, families on Matabas Island have relied on limited and often costly sources of electricity while facing persistent challenges in accessing potable water. As a remote fishing community surrounded by the rich marine waters of Sagay City, residents have long adapted to the realities of geographic isolation.
The REPower Matabas Project was developed to respond to these longstanding challenges through a community- and women-centered approach to renewable energy development. Integrating solar power generation with water desalination, the initiative demonstrates how decentralized renewable energy systems can enhance the quality of life in off-grid island communities.
Implemented by NICE with the strong support of the Honnold Foundation, established by world-renowned rock climber and environmental advocate Alex Honnold, the project reflects a shared commitment to expanding sustainable and equitable access to clean energy.
Community residents, local government officials, civil society groups, and project partners gathered on the island for โBanaag: Commissioning of the Renewable Energy Facilities at Matabasโ, marking the completion of the facilities and celebrating a significant milestone in Matabas Islandโs transition toward a more sustainable and resilient future.
โMay this project continue to inspire unity, environmental stewardship, and progress for our island community. Thank you for being part of this milestone and for helping light the way toward a brighter and more sustainable future,โ said Eliza S. Pugoy, member of the Matabas Active Womenโs Association (MaAWA).
The event was attended by Negros Occidental former Governor Rafael "Lito" Coscolluela, Negros Occidental District II Representative Alfredo Maraรฑon III, Board Member Arthur Christopher Maraรฑon, Sagay City Mayorโs Office, State University of Northern Negros, Department of Education - Sagay City, Matabas Active Womenโs Association (MaAWA), and representatives from partner organizations. For many residents, it was a meaningful occasion not only because of the project's completion but also because it brought wider attention to a community that has often remained beyond the reach of conventional infrastructure and development investments.
NICE emphasized that REPower Matabas is more than an electrification initiative. It is envisioned as a model for sustainable island development that places communities at the center of the energy transition. Through renewable energy, the project aims to support safer water access, improve public services, strengthen disaster resilience, and create better opportunities for coastal communities.
โProviding the electricity to power the facilities is one thing, but a more important thing that we are also committed to as an organization together with our partners is empowerment. Through different training sessions and activities in the coming months, NICE will embark on a journey to complement the energy facilities with the energy of the people,โ said Joshua Villalobos, Secretary-General of the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment.
The commissioning's coincidence with World Ocean Day also highlights the close connection between healthy oceans and resilient coastal communities. As fisherfolk families depend on marine resources for their livelihoods, investments in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure can help reduce vulnerabilities while supporting long-term community development.
With the solar-powered systems now operational, residents of Matabas Island stand to benefit from more reliable access to electricity and clean water, resources that many communities on the mainland often take for granted. For the island's families, the project represents not only new infrastructure but also new possibilities for education, health, livelihoods, and community resilience.
REPower Matabas is a community-driven renewable energy initiative that seeks to demonstrate how off-grid island communities in the Philippines can achieve energy security, water access, and climate resilience through decentralized renewable energy systems. Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) and project partners hope the initiative can serve as a replicable model for sustainable island development in other remote communities across the country.
Read more here: https://negrosanonice.org/
