by Rey Anthony Chiu

Manila (11 January) -- Not bad for first-timers.

The Philippines scored a triumph with Sinag, the country's first solar-powered car as it placed 20th during the 2007 World Solar Challenge (WSC), a venue for creative minds to boost alternatives through the solar energy.

The WSC is a biennial event based on a competitive field of solar cars crossing the Australian continent powered by nothing but the sun. Teams are required to research, build and design vehicles capable of completing the 3000km journey from tropical Darwin in the Northern Territory, to cosmopolitan Adelaide in South Australia.

Sinag, tagalog for sunshine, flawlessly raced across the finish line after a grueling 3,000 kilometer drive across the notorious Australian outback. Sinag left behind a trail of other solar car entries, many of them need to be towed after meeting technical problems in the course.

The feat is promising for the Philippines who came in for the prestigious challenge with a fresh entry: a solar car designed by De La Salle University students and faculty pool.

Sources said the design and construction of the car was undertaken by a group of faculty and students from the Mechanical Engineering Department and the Electronic and Communications Engineering Department of De La Salle University-Manila.

It also needed the help and partnership of Ford Group Philippines, San Miguel Corp., Motolite, Shell, Sunpower, Philippine Airlines and Ventus.

The feat also elated President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo especially with the present efforts of pushing for the development of alternative power to replace the environmentally critical carbon emitting fuels.

Over the success, former Energy Secretary Vince Perez and now the chairman of the Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society Inc. also cited the President's support for the efforts to wean away the country from imported oil and for pressing the move for the development of indigenous and renewable sources of energy.

"Since this challenge happens every two years, we look forward to seeing you off again with a new car," the President said.

"We will go back again in 2009, for you and the country," Rene Fernandez, Sinag Team technical head, also replied.

The President also specifically cited the support extended by Sun Power, a US-based solar cell manufacturer which has invested a total of $600 million at the Laguna Techno Park.

The solar panel used by the Sinag solar–powered car was manufactured by Sun Power.

The body of the car was made of carbon fibers and sported the Philippine colors as it took the Australian outback.

The Philippine team finished 20th out of the total 38 participants in the WSC, an international competition for developers of solar-powered vehicles.

It was the Nuon Solar Team from the Netherlands, with their car the Nuna4, that took the overall win in the competition, finishing the race on Oct. 25.