Over P2.2 million worth of rooftop solar panels for the electrification of Gamot Integrated School in Sitio Gamot, Barangay Sta. Filomena, Quezon, Bukidnon were installed by Vivant Energy through its retail electricity unit, Corenergy, in partnership with Vivant Foundation (VFI).
The project was implemented in collaboration with Bukidnon Power Corporation (BPC) and North Bukidnon Power Corporation (NBPC), as a part of Vivant Energy’s response to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) call for private sectors to aid the transition of the educational landscape in the country.
The project is a significant milestone for VFI, its Executive Director Shem Jose Garcia highlighted, as it marked the first mountain school and the second Indigenous People (IP) community to benefit from the foundation’s solar energization program. The project is part of Project Liadlaw, one of VFI’s broader efforts to address the digital divide and provide essential services to off-grid communities.
According to Brgy. Sta. Filomena chairman Ferdinand Silvestre, the VFI’s grant would contribute towards keeping more students inside classrooms.
“Before the installation of the solar panels from Vivant, it would take the whole day for our students to reach the town proper to access electricity. The situation back then was really challenging which led to students not pursuing education,” said Silvestre.
“Finally we are graced by this opportunity. We are beyond grateful for this project which will pave the way for our learners to have access to e-learning materials and make their education more effective,” he added.
The installed solar panels generate 12.1 kilowatt peak (kWp) of electricity, providing sufficient supply to power Gamot Integrated School throughout an entire day. Enabled by a steady supply of power through its new solar energy installation, the school was also awarded with free internet connection via Starlink through an initiative by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
“Because of this project, we now have access to modern-day learning technologies that could help introduce our young learners to the modern world,” said Quezon, Bukidnon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III.
To date, Project Liadlaw has electrified 21 off-grid schools around the Philippines and VFI plans to continue expanding its solar electrification program to reach more remote schools. Additionally, the foundation is working with DepEd and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to develop an upgraded version of the Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) curriculum to incorporate solar technology, ensuring the sustainability and maintenance of solar energization projects.
“As technology improves, more often than not our remote communities get left behind. Our solutions bring modern technologies that address inequities that remote communities — including our indigenous brothers — face in catching up with the modern world. At Vivant, our ethos is to create solutions for our changing world”, VFI Executive Director Shem Jose Garcia concluded.
