ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Despite the technological wonders modernization has brought, indegenous residents of a small island in Zamboanga City has yet to experience 21st century comforts such as electricity to light up their homes.

Realizing this sorry situation, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) has decided to seek solar funding for tribal villagers and members of an off-grid indigenous community on Simariki Island where residents sleep early because there is no light in the night.

Just recently, the Jesuit-run university launched a fundraising campaign to provide electricity by installing additional solar panels that would generate enough energy to provide electricity and light.

According to AdZU, the initiative marks a shift from short-term relief drives toward long-term, development-focused community engagement. It aims to install 36 solar-powered street lamps to improve nighttime mobility, navigation safety, and overall community activity in shared public spaces.

The first 12 solar units under AdZU's project Suga were handed over in December, marking Phase 1, while organizers continue mobilizing resources for the remaining installations.

For years, the university ran seasonal charity drives, distributing hundreds of food packages to marginalized communities throughout Zamboanga City and surrounding areas. Campus ministry director Kevin Roy Jimera said such efforts, while beneficial, often provided limited relief and raised questions about sustainability.

“Though we can feed a family for a day, at most a week, after that, what’s next? It’s not even sustainable,” Jimera cited as consultations with the Center for Community Extension Services have already identified electricity deprivation as a critical challenge for families on the island.

“At 7 p.m., residents are already asleep because there is no light,” Jimera said, citing reliance on kerosene lamps and safety concerns.

Another concern also encountered almost daily are students who have to travel to mainland schools while facing heightened risks as they are obliged to depart before sunrise and return after dark, with minimal visibility for activities at home, including studies.

Jimera disclosed that each solar lamp needed by the community costs about 13,000 pesos (US$224), including materials, transportation and installation in the geographically isolated settlement. However, he added that lighting alone cannot address structural vulnerabilities, such as fragile housing, unsafe walkways, and exposure to harsh coastal conditions.

He urged broader government intervention, calling on agencies, including the National Housing Authority, to consider housing and infrastructure support. AdZU officials expressed hope that the project will encourage sustained partnerships and demonstrate how renewable energy can foster safer community environments.

With the Philippines having an estimated population of 117 million, studies have shown that 98 percent of them have access to electricity. Despite this, though, media reports have also indicated that at least 2.7 million people, mostly in remote areas, lack access to any energy source.