2007年VOA标准英语-Solar Energy Brings Benefits to Remote Philippi

By Prospero Laput
Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
16 July 2007
 

Electricity has yet to reach hundreds of villages in the Philippines. The Philippine government is tapping innovative¹ technology to light up some villages, but in this report by producer Prospero Laput from Zamboanga del Norte in the Philippines, poor villagers complain electricity remains² out of their reach. VOA's Heda Bayron has more.

Patagan villiage

The sun powers the remote village of Patagan in the Philippines' poorest province, Zamboanga del Norte.

The only road to the village is not passable when it rains. Power lines simply cannot reach the area.

Residents here thought themselves lucky in 2004 to receive a solar-powered electricity system, part of a nationwide project by the Philippine and Spanish governments.

Joelita Limbaga, a government officer who monitors the project, says children now study more, livelihood³ has improved and villagers can do some work at night.

Solar panel

Cells in this panel absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity.  The panels are reliable and can last up to 25 years.

Village chief Benjamin Baynosa says they needed electric lamps.

He says they were happy to have the solar-powered light because it cannot be put out by strong winds, unlike the small kerosene⁴ lamps they had before.

Patagan villagers say the solar panels changed their lives. But their poverty makes it hard to maintain the panels. Most of the villagers are farmers. They earn about a dollar a day, mostly from selling coconut⁵ products. 

A villiager

Users have to pay $3.70 a month to maintain the solar panels -- more costly⁶ than kerosene for lamps. Villagers say it is too expensive.

One villager says it is difficult to keep up with the monthly payments. She says many families have given up and transferred the panels to their neighbors.

There is potential for solar power in the Philippines. But the poorest villages cannot afford to take full advantage of even this source of light and power.

1 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

4 kerosene   

n.(kerosine)煤油，火油

参考例句：

• It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
• Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电，有煤油灯。

5 coconut   

n.椰子

参考例句：

• The husk of this coconut is particularly strong.椰子的外壳很明显非常坚固。
• The falling coconut gave him a terrific bang on the head.那只掉下的椰子砰地击中他的脑袋。

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。