PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — A sea vessel powered by renewable energy was introduced in Coron town in Northern Palawan on Wednesday to provide transportation and other services to island communities, as well as advance a low-carbon future for the Philippines.

The inaugural launch of the RE-driven banca was in collaboration with USAID Energy Secure Philippines, Oceantera Energy Corporation, the local government unit of Coron, various civil society groups and private partners.

USAID's environmental officer Paul Brown and USAID's contracting officer Howard Weston graced the event.

Brown described the renewable energy-powered banca as an inventive remedy to address a range of challenges that people are encountering in the contemporary world, especially in Coron, an island town where there are hard to reach communities.