With a goal to bring light to the darkest communities in the country, the search for the 2022 awardees of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) is underway.
TOWNS Foundation, Inc. will also launch this February 14 the Light and Love Lifting the Philippines (L3P) project which aims to distribute at least 5,000 salt-water portable lamps to far-flung communities hit by Typhoon Odette.
The salt lamps, invented by TOWNS 2016 Awardee Aisa Mijeno, is featured in this teaser video on Facebook https://fb.watch/b845eRt2kT/
Mijeno, founder of Sustainable Alternative Lighting Corporation (SALT), is set to release the new version of the SALT lamp, which serves both as a lighting and power-charging device.
Conceptualized by information and communication technology (ICT) and countryside development advocate Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, a fellow 2016 awardee, the project aims to raise at least P7.5 million for the purchase and distribution of the lamps across the country.
Joining Mijeno and Batapa-Sigue are their fellow awardees, namely, Philippine Olympic Weightlifting Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz, art curator and medical doctor Isa Lorenzo, MetroBank Outstanding Teacher Sabrina Ongkiko, global food security icon Cherrie Atillano, multi-awarded investigative journalist Patricia Evangelista, and Philippine Navy Commander Marissa Arlene Andres-Martinez.
Target households shall be among the 2.5 million families affected by typhoon Odette in 9,003 barangays in MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.
This batch project, Batapa-Sigue said, was fueled by their collective desire to collaborate in providing a concrete contribution for the recovery of communities from the calamity while promoting Filipino invention and innovation, development of women in science and technology, and the growth of alternative or renewable energy.
Even prior to the pandemic, Mijeno’s vision for SALT is to make it the leading source of environment-friendly energy generation and storage systems and devices as the demand for renewable energy steadily grows.
SALT lamp is reusable, requires low maintenance, and is activated by one of the world’s abundant resources, salt.
The second version of SALT is smaller and more compact in size, lighter in terms of weight, and offers a more powerful lighting. The LED component can last up to ten years, while the lighting metal can easily be replaced every month when the lamp is used as the main energy source. The plastic casing is made of recycled plastic as part of Mijeno’s environmental commitment.
TOWNS Foundation President Cecilia Victoria “Ces” Drilon welcomed the project as it complements the on-going assistance of the foundation to the recovery of Dinagat Island Province, headed by another TOWNS Awardee, Governor Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao.
The batch will pitch to various individuals and corporations as potential sponsors to raise the amount which will be under the name of TOWNS Foundation for management and accounting. Interested donors may contact 0991-677-7422 or email [email protected]To download nomination form and nominate an outstanding woman for TOWNS Awards 2022, visit townsfoundation.org.ph
