Iloilo to launch first solar-powered bangka in PH

By Reamae Velasco, Daily Guardian intern

Fisherfolk and Bantay Dagat personnel in Iloilo province are set to benefit from the country’s first solar-powered motorized bangka, donated by a nonprofit organization to the provincial government.

Ray Victor Garin, project development officer and energy efficiency and conservation focal person of Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, presented the initiative before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its regular session on Tuesday, July 22.

Garin said the prototype vessel is equipped with bifacial solar panels, inverters, cold storage facilities, and a U.S.-made battery system, allowing it to operate for up to six hours at sea.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has formally requested authority from the provincial board to enter into a “Transferred As-Is Equipment Transfer Agreement” with RTI International to finalize the vessel’s turnover.

“This asset will not only aid in fishing activities but also support our tourism efforts,” Garin said.

“If the prototype performs well, we hope to replicate it for wider use across the province.”

The solar-powered bangka is intended for dual use in fishing and tourism, and also as a tool for coastal monitoring by Bantay Dagat teams.

The goal is to promote sustainable marine resource management and eco-friendly fishing practices.

The initiative is part of the Energy Secure Philippines program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has supported Iloilo’s renewable energy and energy management efforts for the past two years.

Although the Iloilo bangka is the first of its kind in the country, similar initiatives have been launched elsewhere.

In 2023, USAID introduced the Adlao Azul – a solar-powered vessel serving the municipalities of Busuanga, Coron, and Culion in Palawan – which delivers emergency supplies during power outages and disasters.