2007年VOA标准英语-Poverty Undermines Solar Power Project for Remo

By Heda Bayron
Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
16 July 2007

House with solar panel unit in Patagan

Electricity has yet to reach hundreds of far-flung villages in the Philippines. But a solar energy system project for the country's remote villages is facing problems because of poverty. Prospero Laput visited the village of Patagan in the southern Philippines, and has this report brought to us by VOA's Heda Bayron.

The road to Patagan village is a narrow dirt path cleared out of the thick jungle. When it rains, it is a mud pit. There are no buses here. Villagers either walk several kilometers to town or travel on motorcycles, or horseback.

Patagan is so remote that power lines cannot reach the area. Until three years ago, the village's 1,100 residents did not have electricity.

The villagers cheered when, in 2004, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo¹ came all the way from Manila to hand over a solar energy system.

Households were given solar panels that absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. Each unit generates enough electricity to light up fluorescent² bulbs.

The project is part of a nationwide program co-funded by Spain to bring power to nearly half a million people.

It seems to have come at the right time. Oil prices are high, and the Philippines' location close to the equator means there is plenty of sunshine all year round.

Village chief Benjamin Baynosa

says the villagers were happy to have the solar-powered light because it cannot be put out by strong winds, unlike the small kerosene³ lamps they had been using.

Joelita Limbaga, a government officer who monitors the project, says children now study more, livelihood⁴ has improved, and villagers can do some work at night.

But while the solar panels changed village life for the better, the residents say they cannot pay for the system's upkeep. Recipients⁵ have to pay $3.70 cents monthly to a maintenance fund.

Villagers say that is more expensive than their $2 monthly budget for kerosene for lamps.

Most of the villagers are farmers. They earn about a dollar a day, mostly from selling coconut⁶ products and bananas.

Housewife in Patagan says the solar power maintenance fee is too expensive

This housewife says villagers worry about putting food on the table. She says it would have been better if the maintenance fee were reduced to a dollar.

Some families have already given their panels to neighbors because they cannot afford the fee.

With the solar project, the government hoped to stimulate⁷ farm productivity in the country's poorest areas. If harnessed effectively, solar energy could power water pumps for irrigation, hatcheries and incubators for agribusiness activities.

But the economic benefits have yet to be felt by Patagan residents. A recently constructed public market is empty and used by children as shelter from the heat.

Without the solar panels, the village would have to wait much longer for electricity. Government efforts to connect the area to power grids⁸ have been hampered⁹ by Patagan's inaccessibility¹⁰ and the limited potential for a return on investment. The villagers say electricity remains¹¹ a luxury.

1 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

2 fluorescent   

adj.荧光的，发出荧光的

参考例句：

• They observed the deflections of the particles by allowing them to fall on a fluorescent screen.他们让粒子落在荧光屏上以观察他们的偏移。
• This fluorescent lighting certainly gives the food a peculiar color.这萤光灯当然增添了食物特别的色彩。

3 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。

4 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。

5 recipients   

adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器

参考例句：

• The recipients of the prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者的姓名登在报上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The recipients of prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者名单登在报上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 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。

7 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

8 grids   

n.格子( grid的名词复数 )；地图上的坐标方格；（输电线路、天然气管道等的）系统网络；（汽车比赛）赛车起跑线

参考例句：

• Typical framed structures are beams, grids, plane and space frames or trusses. 典型构架结构为梁、格栅、平面的和空间的框架或桁架。 来自辞典例句
• The machines deliver trimmed grids for use or stock. 这种机器铸出修整过的板栅，以供使用或储存。 来自辞典例句

9 hampered   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

10 inaccessibility   

n. 难接近, 难达到, 难达成

参考例句：

• Her tone and her look still enveloped her in a soft inaccessibility. 她的语调和神态依旧把她禁锢在一种不可接近的状态中。

11 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。