A New Center for SLSU: the Affiliated Renewable Energy Center

The Department of Energy (DOE) has just awarded the Certificate of Accreditation to the Affiliated Renewable Energy Center (AREC) of Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), as one of its 45 ARECs in the country.

The Memorandum of Agreement with the DOE was signed in June 30, 2015 and the Certificate of Accreditation was awarded in July 14. SLSU’s AREC will be situated at SLSU-Sogod campus and will be manned by the Engineering faculty.

DOE taps state colleges and universities to perform research and development, extension and even production of alternative energy sources.

SLSU publicly signalled its interest to become an AREC when it invited DOE Assistant Secretary Daniel Ariaso to give a lecture on energy conservation and an orientation on AREC on June 11, 2015 at SLSU-Sogod.

“We applied to become an AREC to expand our network with fellow ARECs in the country, and to allow us to collaborate with private companies who invest in renewable energy,” said SLSU President Prose Ivy Yepes, recalling a meeting with the DOE , SUC presidents, and a U.S.-based company on the possible venture of installing solar energy panels in SLSU campuses to drive down energy costs.

“We could also go into the exploration of possible energy sources here in Southern Leyte,” said President Yepes. “And along the way, our researchers and engineers will produce innovations on renewable energy. This could possibly be patented. With increasing patents, we could also generate income in the future and pave the way for many other opportunities.”

In the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, some ARECs in the country used their capacity to provide indigenous power sources for their schools and communities ranging from locally made micro-hydro power plants to solar-powered lanterns.

“That would be one of our goals – to help poor households, especially those in the remote areas, to have their own electricity. Eventually we would,” said President Yepes. “The innovations that will be developed by our engineers through the AREC would really go to the community. In every technology innovation we generate, we have to transfer it to the community, through our extension program.”

SLSU’s AREC is headed by Jose Monteroso, an engineer faculty member from the Engineering Department, and staffed by engineers Danilo Metra Jr., Angel Sabusap, and Rommel Valmoria, who will act as division heads of the Center for the technical division, research and development division and extension division, respectively. While Monteroso is designated as AREC Director, the Center remains under the supervision of the Office of the Vice President for Research, Development and Extension.

However, manpower composition can change depending on the performance of AREC in the evaluation DOE holds periodically.

SLSU is already allocating close to a million funds for the establishment of the AREC and for the implementation of its programs and activities. DOE will grant the same amount to the institution in a scheme where DOE bestows the exact amount put forth by the institution as its counterpart.

In contrast to some SUCS which were given only four years to operate, SLSU is given five years.

SLSU takes pride in being the SUC with the shortest application and fastest accreditation. After DOE Assistant Secretary Ariaso gave an orientation on the AREC on June 11, 2015 SLSU was able to beat the June 15 the deadline for submission AREC related documentation required by the DOE. Evaluators from the Department of Science and Technology came to SLSU on June 22, and the SLSU President and AREC Director signed the MOA at DOE in June 30. Duly notarized MOA and the Certificate of Accreditation as one of the country’s ARECs were awarded to the SLSU President and AREC Director by Assistant Secretary Ariaso on July 14, 2015.

Geographic Information Systems expert and Philippine GIS Data Clearinghouse founder Alejandro Tongco will be tapped as SLSU’s consultant in the operation of the AREC. Tongco had studied alternative energy for his dissertation, comes with a solid engineering background, and was a former dean of the College of Engineering at Caraga State University and Universidad de Zamboanga. 

An August 6, 2015 meeting on the finalization of the work and financial plan of the AREC. (L-R:) Angel Sabusap, Danilo Metra Jr., VP for Research, Development and Extension Francis Ann Sy, SLSU President Prose Ivy Yepes, Financial Management Officer Geraldine Paler, SLSU-Sogod RDE Director Veronica Reoma, Rommel Valmoria and Jose Monteroso.

A DOST evaluator with the AREC division heads and SLSU President Prose Ivy Yepes in the AREC on-site evaluation on June 22. Not in the picture is Financial Management Officer Geraldine Paler who was among those interviewed by the evaluator. 

The June 11, 2015 lecture on energy conservation with DOE Assistant Secretary Daniel Ariaso was attended by faculty members and staff from SLSU’s five campuses.

Ariaso’s orientation on AREC on June 11 was attended by SLSU key officials and faculty members from the Engineering Department.