(Excerpt from the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Fifth Anniversary Report citing the Maasin Diocese’s solar project with WeGen.)
WeGen Laudato Si’s solar PV projects in Maasin, Southern Leyte for the Diocese of Maasin have been cited in the report recently launched by the Vatican titled “Journeying Towards Care for our Common Home: Five Years After Laudato Si’.“
The Maasin Diocese has been cited as the first Diocese in the world to go completely solar in the report which documents best practices in various countries.
Released last June 18 to mark the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home”, the 265-page report focuses on efforts of different religious and sectarian organizations to address the climate emergency and protect the planet from its ravages.
On page 42 of the report, the Vatican cited the Diocese of Maasin as “the first diocese in the world to equip all parishes with solar panels.” By 2018, the Diocese of Maasin has installed solar PV systems in all its 42 parishes. Aside from the Diocese of Maasin, the report also cited the renewable energy advocacy of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on the Laity which also works closely with WeGen.
The commission has continuously encouraged the use of solar energy in church institutions and communities, and was cited in the report for its mission to “promote information and communication campaigns to spread the teachings of Pope Francis and the Laudato Si.”
WeGen’s solar PV systems in the Diocese of Maasin were inaugurated on August 14, 2018, on the 50th Anniversary of the Diocese.
All the parish churches under the Diocese have been equipped with solar PV systems, and these include the historic Holy Cross and First Mass Chapel in Limasawa Island and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Maasin (Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Maasin), commonly known as the Maasin City Cathedral. Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillas, SDB, D.D., expressed elation over the Vatican’s recognition of the Diocese. In various reports, he said that they were “surprised but happy.”
“I am surprised to know that our humble effort to implement something to preserve our Mother Earth, The Vatican cites the Diocese of Maasin Solar Project powered by WeGen heeding the call of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ Encyclical letter, got a recognition and affirmation at a high level,” he said over Radio Veritas.
The Bishop further noted that the recognition was an important development that will help them expand the campaign to encourage the Filipino people to make the transition to renewable energy sources such as solar energy.
“This news encourages us more to expand the use of renewable energy, solar power, which we have introduced in the Diocese,” he said. Bishop Cantillas said that the Diocese continues to make more efforts to help protect the environment while it encourages other dioceses in the country to also use solar PV systems to generate electricity for their churches and other buildings.
“Hopefully, we will reach a level where we can contribute more significantly to the restoration and preservation of our environment. We also hope that more Dioceses will adopt these alternative power sources so that God’s creation will be restored even by just a little degree. The Church is continuing Christ’s mission of restoring all things back to how the Father has willed it,” he said.
Clean and Cost-Effective Energy
In a report on the website, Vatican News, Bishop Cantillas also declared that because of the solar PV systems installed in cathedrals and school buildings, the Maasin Diocese has saved over US$2,000 in electricity bills per month.
The solar panels WeGen installed are designed to last at least 25 years, whereas the diocese is expected to recover its investment in a mere seven years.
With those solar panels in place, 1,875 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be mitigated over a 25-year period. WeGen Laudato Si’ subsidiary company was “formed specifically to work closely with the Catholic Church and other religious communities in the country”. It encourages various sectors of society to shift from using conventional sources of energy to clean, renewable energy from the sun. With deep gratitude, the Wegen Management congratulates everyone who made this project possible with a special mention to Jun Cruz and the Maasin Project Team led by Engr. Romnick Aredidon, Maldex Magoncia, and Engr. Art Robles. #