CARAGA Region — In the far-flung islands and quiet coastlines of Mindanao, where electricity has long been scarce and environmental degradation a looming threat, change is arriving—clean, green, and community-driven.
Thanks to a bold collaboration between the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and the BIMP-EAGA Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (BKCF), climate-resilient innovation is now lighting homes, restoring ecosystems, and empowering lives.
Solar Solutions Spark Light—and Hope—in Surigao
In the scattered Surigao Islands, more than 890 solar cloud-grid units have been distributed to off-grid communities through a groundbreaking initiative by Light of Hope PH. These compact, fuel-free systems are revolutionizing daily life by delivering up to 12 hours of uninterrupted clean energy for lighting, charging, and ventilation.
For Jovie Gil Montajes, CEO of Light of Hope PH Inc., the mission is personal and profound.
“We aim to build a better Mindanao by providing clean energy access to uplift island and coastal communities,” Montajes said. “This is about resilience and sustainability—for today and for future generations.”
Backed by BKCF and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the initiative significantly reduces carbon emissions—by an estimated 130 tons each year—while requiring minimal installation. The success of this model not only contributes to the Philippines’ national electrification goals but also aligns closely with MinDA’s “Building a Better Mindanao” campaign that emphasizes inclusive development.
Mangrove Revival Meets Machine Learning in Bislig
Meanwhile, on the southeastern shores of Bislig City, another pioneering project is unfolding—one that marries artificial intelligence with traditional ecological knowledge.
MinDA and GGGI, together with Oceanus Conservation Inc. and tech partner Thinking Machine, are implementing the region’s first AI-powered Digital Monitoring of Mangrove Ecosystems. The goal: to rehabilitate around 1,600 hectares of degraded mangrove areas through real-time data and predictive analytics.
“This kind of partnership shows what’s possible when innovation meets local stewardship,” said Katrina Lacson, Field and Science Coordinator at Oceanus Conservation. “We’re not just collecting data—we’re empowering communities to lead in climate action.”
The project engages four people’s organizations—comprising around 30 households and 150 individuals—who are restoring abandoned fishponds and reviving mangrove forests. In addition to enhancing biodiversity and climate resilience, their work is laying the groundwork for a proposed mariculture park that could provide sustainable food and livelihood options for the area.
A Scalable Model for a Sustainable Future
MinDA and GGGI officials hailed the dual projects as models for scalable, community-based climate resilience and blue carbon strategies in Mindanao and beyond. Their efforts demonstrate how international cooperation and local action can jointly address energy poverty and ecological degradation in vulnerable regions.
Since its creation in 2021, the BKCF has supported over 30 projects across the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) corridor. Grants ranging from USD100,000 to USD500,000 are fueling inclusive and balanced development across Southeast Asia, with an eye toward deeper ASEAN-Korea connectivity.
In Mindanao, that vision is already becoming reality.
With solar lights illuminating island homes and AI-guided restoration reviving coastal ecosystems, the region is not only confronting the climate crisis—it is quietly becoming a beacon of sustainable progress.