Entrepreneur teaches light making

By Nicole J. Managbanag

Saturday, September 3, 201

A social development entrepreneur visited Cagayan de Oro (CDO) on Thursday and introduced the process of making lights through recycled bottles.

Illac Diaz, a social development entrepreneur and nephew of former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz who founded MyShelter Foundation, a non-profit organization brought a simple, cheap and innovative technology to the Philippines through his project "A Liter of Light" (Isang Litrong Liwanag) that makes use of recycled plastic bottles.

The project conducted in CDO was spearheaded by MyShelter Foundation and the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines Northern and Central Mindanao (Oro, Bai Lawanen, Macajalar 24K, Kagayhaan Gold and Iligan) in cooperation with ABC of Cagayan de Oro City, Parasat, Zipzone, Great White Water Tours and Ms. Jem Ferrer and Blue Angel Productions.

Diaz said the solar bottle lights can be made out of recycled plastic soda bottles encased in galvanized iron sheets and filled with solutions of chlorine, water and salt that can normally be found in the household.

He said the “Isang Litrong Liwanag” is a sustainable lighting project that aims to bring the eco-friendly Solar Bottle Bulb to underprivileged communities nationwide.

Designed and developed by students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Diaz said the Solar Bottle Bulb is based on the principles of Appropriate Technologies, a concept that provides simple and easily replicable technologies that address basic needs in developing communities.

At Barangay Lapasan, around 100 solar bulbs were installed.

Diaz said they chose Barangay Lapasan as the pilot area of the project in Cagayan de Oro since it is one of the most populated barangays in the city.

“Our group aims to provide solar energy at a much cheaper cost of P250 per bulb, which is equivalent to 55 watts that would last up to 10 years,” said Diaz, a 2005 Top Outstanding Young Men awardee for Social Entrepreneurship and the 2007 JCI TOYP.

With the bottle light, he said those who cannot afford to have electricity will no longer use candles or kerosene lamps that would sometimes cause fire.

Diaz said the bottle light also contributes against climate change.

He said on October 29, they will light around 300,000 solar bulbs simultaneously in major cities of the country as part of the “Isang Litrong Liwanag” project.

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on September 04, 2011.