MANILA – The ¥6 million Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) grant for four solar panel buildings will complete its installations by March 2016, according to a source from the Department of Energy (DOE).
”The Japanese targets to complete installations of solar panels by March 2016, but they promised to finish it early,” the source said.
JICS, a collaboration of private companies and the Japanese government, will start sending the equipment to the Philippines this April.
The source added JICS also allocated costs for consultants, with the Philippines paying only import tax for the equipment.
The ¥6 million grant will consist of four projects, namely the Philippine National Police (PNP) Sports Center, National Power Corporation, Lung Center of the Philippines and the Rizal Park.
The four facilities were measured for the retrofitting of the solar panels.
The source noted the PNP Sports Center has the biggest capacity at 410 kilowatts (kW). It was chosen by JICS.
The DOE and PNP signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the project last April 6 during the PNP’s Flag Ceremony.
The grant goes back to 2009, where the Philippines initiated the project since Japan was seeking projects that will mitigate climate change.
The projects have also been evaluated by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for approval.
The DOE initially suggested Market Market and SM Mall of Asia for the grant, but the Japanese asked why they wanted private institutions to avail the grant.
The two establishments went through expansion and the DOE eventually decided to push for government buildings to be installed with solar panels.