One hundred fourteen families from two coastal communities in the Masbate province of the Philippines received solar lanterns at the launching of Kusog Masbate or “Strong Masbate” All-Lights Village on January 12, 2016.  This is the first All-Lights Village established in the Bicol region, one of the most impoverished areas in the Philippines.

Masbate families with their newly distributed All-Lights Village solar lanterns.

The All-Lights Village project is a long-term community development program that begins with providing solar-powered lights to rural villages with limited access to electricity and then assists with improving the overall quality of life through education, clean water solutions and income generation. The program is now in six countries around the world. The next phase of the new All-Lights village will include installation of solar-powered streetlights in the second quarter of 2016.

Vice Governor of Masbate Province, Kaye Revil, offers remarks to families of “Kusog Masbate” All-Lights Village.

“It is our vision to have Masbate as the best place to raise a family,” Governor Revil stated during discussions on the development of Masbate Province.  “We welcome this collaboration with Global Peace Foundation,” he said, adding that with the implementation of the All-Lights Village Project, Masbate is now “in line with the sustainable development goals of the country.”

During the All-Lights Village launch ceremony, Masbate region government officials including Natividad Magbalon,  Mayor of Milagros, expressed their high hopes for the success of the program and its goals. Vice Governor Kaye Revil said her experience at the Global Peace Foundation’s 2015 Global Peace Youth Exchange in Korea motivated her to assist Masbate and her constituents in getting out of poverty through community development actions.