A remote barangay in the Cuyo Islands of Palawan recorded its first safe childbirth in a newly energized health station, thanks to One Meralco Foundation’s (OMF) Rural Health Center Electrification Program.

On July 29, Sonia Agawin gave birth to her daughter, Danica, at the Barangay Caponayan Health Station—marking a milestone for the previously unelectrified facility, which now runs on solar power.

Before the energization, expectant mothers had to endure a two-hour boat ride to Cuyo town proper weeks ahead of their due date to access basic maternity care—an arrangement that cost families up to P2,000 for a one-way trip and required a temporary stay in town.

The solar-powered upgrade, completed in June through funds from the 2024 Meralco Golf Cup, has enabled health workers to deliver essential medical services locally. The energized facility now provides adequate lighting, improved ventilation, sterilization capabilities, and emergency response readiness.

“Ramdam mo ‘yung kumpyansa na mai-deliver ng safe ang bata dahil alam mong mas accessible na ang mga kailangan sa panganganak. Ibang kumpyansa ang dulot ng may liwanag na. Mas sure ako sa aking galaw, hindi hassle maghanap ng mga gamit, at mabilis maka-sterilize ng gamit (“You can really feel the confidence that the baby can be delivered safely because you know that everything needed for childbirth is now more accessible. There’s a different kind of assurance that comes with having light. I’m more confident in my movements, it’s no longer a hassle to look for tools, and I can sterilize equipment quickly),” said midwife Jenie May Nadayao, who has served in Barangay Caponayan since 2023.

OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao said the initiative is more than an infrastructure upgrade. “By energizing rural health stations, we do more than just upgrading infrastructures. Electrification paves the way for quality healthcare that replaces the concerns of long and risky journeys of expectant mothers with the comfort of a safe childbirth. It also boosts the confidence of our rural and barangay health workers knowing that they can now care for their patients even in the remotest of barangays in the country.”

Launched in 2022, OMF’s Rural Health Center Electrification Program has energized health stations in Rizal, Quezon, Palawan, Iloilo, Sarangani, and South Cotabato—benefiting over 21,000 residents.

What are your thoughts on expanding solar-backed health access in off-grid communities? Join the conversation with fellow energy and development professionals.

Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community for more updates.