One Meralco Foundation provides solar power to Negros schools
Eight public schools in Negros Oriental now enjoy clean and renewable electricity under the School Electrification Program of the One Meralco Foundation (OMF).
The newly energized schools are Apo Elementary School in Dauin; Bago-bago Elementary School, Kanggabok Elementary School, Pedro R. Abul Memorial High School and San Isidro Elementary School in Santa Catalina; Salingkubong Elementary School and Nawacat Elementary School in Siaton; and Palay Elementary School in Manjuyod; all under the Department of Education Division of Negros Oriental.
Each of the eight schools received a multimedia package, which consists of a 49-inch LED TV, a laptop computer, and a printer-scanner, donated by employees of Meralco through their organization called Employees’ Fund for Charity Inc. (MEFCI).
A ceremonial turn-over of the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System, Multimedia Equipment and Energy Education Flash Cards was held last Aug. 26, at the DepEd Region 7-Sub Regional Office in Dumaguete City.
The SEP aims to energize public schools in very remote islands and mountain areas in the country in the hope of improving the learning experience of students in off-grid schools. This project is a flagship education program outside the Meralco franchise area.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones stated that education cannot move without light and electricity.
“We have ambitions toward 21st century education skills which will allow the graduates of our senior high school to either enter university or proceed to college or enter the world of work. Therefore, they have to be proficient in science and technology, and also in culture, music, and history,” Briones said.
“That cannot be achieved without the blessings of electricity. If ever we will be able to do something without electricity, it will, of course, be very limited,” she added.
Briones underscored that education is the foundation and the beginning of economic development, and electricity has a big role in enhancing and speeding up the development process.
She expressed her gratitude to One Meralco for all its efforts in making electricity available to schools and for the multimedia package given by their employees.
Juliet Jeruta, DepEd Region 7 director, also thanked the OMF for supporting the areas that still lack electrification and for the provision of services and multimedia equipment.
In addition to the schools that received SEP and multimedia equipment, six elementary schools and six secondary schools received the Energy Education Flash Cards authored by 37 public school teachers from across the country under the supervision of the Coalition of Better Education (CBE) and DepEd.