LUZON ISLAND, Philippines — Panasonic Corporation is committed to the “Cut Out the Darkness Project,” an effort to donate a total of 100 thousand solar lanterns to the world’s non-electrified areas by the company’s 100th anniversary in 2018.
Last fiscal year, a total of 2,392 solar lanterns were delivered to the Philippines, and similar numbers are scheduled for donation this year as well. As a part of these efforts, in September, five volunteer employees of Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation (PMPC) visited and donated solar lanterns to indigenous people living in the off-grid village of Magata in Tanay municipality of Rizal province on Luzon Island.
These solar lanterns were decorated with handmade lantern shades with images and messages drawn by 20 PMPC employees. The lanterns gave courage to the villagers who, without access to electricity, face much harsher conditions in comparison to those in the city in terms of safety, health, and education.
Panasonic, together with employees and the general public, will continue to deliver solar lanterns to people of the world living without electricity.
About Magata Village
Magata Village, located about 50 km east from the capital of Manila, is a mountain village home to 480 indigenous people. Until now, the people in this village without electricity had only the light of kerosene lamps and flashlights, which greatly limited health and medical services provided at night, not to mention increased risk. Magata is supported in the areas of health and medical care by one of last year’s solar lanterns recipients, Integrative Medicine for Alternative Healthcare Systems (INAM) and the village was chosen once again to receive the recent donation.
About the Cut Out the Darkness Project
Solar lanterns with handmade shades have been donated since 2013 as a part of the “Cut Out the Darkness” project. At present, more than 1,200 shade designs have been sent by users to the project website, of which more than 200 have been chosen through user voting and donated to the villages in Sumba Island and West Timor in Indonesia.
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