Manila, Philippines - As part of its efforts of the "100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project" in 2014, Panasonic donated 2,376 solar lanterns (BG-BL03) to the Philippines in mid-February 2015.
The 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project was launched as part of Panasonic's corporate citizenship activities (social contribution activities) to utilize its technologies and products to help resolve various social challenges faced in emerging and developing countries that have poor electrical power conditions. The goal is to donate 100,000 solar lanterns to NPOs/ NGOs, humanitarian organizations and international organizations by the year 2018, the year of Panasonic's 100th anniversary.
In December 2013, Panasonic had donated 1,002 solar lanterns to the Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Government of the Philippines, for people in disaster areas after Typhoon No. 30 (Haiyan, Yolanda) hit the country. However, the donation to the Philippines this time was not for the disaster relief purpose but for the resolution of various social challenges faced by people living in areas without access to electricity in the country, in line with the context of its original purpose of the 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project.
In recent years, Philippines has experienced steady economic growth in the urban areas, but many social challenges related to poverty issues still exist in rural areas particularly in mountainous areas and islands, with many people not having any access to electricity in their everyday lives. The solar lanterns that were donated to the various organizations are expected to help resolve these social challenges especially in the fields of education and healthcare in off-grid areas in Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro Negros, Palawan and Romblon islands.
Panasonic previously donated more than 24,000 solar lanterns to nine countries in the first two years of the 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project after it was launched in FY2012. In FY 2014, Panasonic had donated more than 6,000 solar lanterns to Cambodia and Myanmar. Therefore, adding the number of solar lanterns donated to the Philippines this time, the cumulative number of solar lanterns donated under the Project has achieved more than 32,300 units. In addition, Panasonic will continue to donate solar lanterns to other Asian and African countries in FY2014, and the cumulative number of solar lanterns donated under the Project will be more than 40,000 at the end of March, 2015.
As part of its efforts to pursue "A Better Life, A Better World," Panasonic will continue the "100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project" to contribute to sustainable development and to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
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