Iloilo City: The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 6 (Western Visayas) is piloting its Driving Advancement, Generating Access, and Transforming Small Island Communities (DAGAT) project in a small island barangay (village) in the municipality of Concepcion, Iloilo. In an interview at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday, DOST-6 assistant director for technical operations Keithlyn Sarah Bernardino said they would provide a small-scale wind turbine to provide electricity for Barangay Botlog.

According to Philippines News Agency, the project is in partnership with the Central Philippine University, Northern Iloilo State University Affiliated Renewable Energy Center, and Concepcion town. 'In this pilot project, we want to demonstrate that we have a local capability here in the region to produce this kind of technology, and is effective in providing renewable energy to our island barangays,' Bernardino said.

However, she noted that the project could not provide power to every household but would energize public infrastructures, such as their barangay hall, gymnasium, church, day care center, and street lights. The installation began last year and was eyed to become operational this year and for replication in other smaller islands.

She added that they have also capacitated the community in disaster risk reduction and management by conducting training on disaster preparedness and basic first aid. Additionally, they assisted them in developing an emergency and evacuation plan and establishing their DRRM corner.