Some 290 public schools across the country were energized by solar photovoltaic (PV) system through One Meralco Foundation’s (OMF) community electrification program.

OMF told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Wednesday that these schools are from 38 provinces and benefitted 89,235 students and 2,903 teachers.

The latest off-grid public school that was energized by OMF is the Lim Elementary School in Caluya, Antique, which is a four-hour boat ride from the province’s mainland.

OMF’s project in Lim Elementary School involves a 1-kilowatt peak solar PV system to cater to the lighting and ventilation requirements of the school, as well as to allow teachers and students to utilize different modes for learning such as laptops, televisions, printers and other equipment.

“Investing on improvements in the learning environment of our students will help further not just their respective individual growth but also contribute towards the development of their community,” OMF president Jeffrey Tarayao said. “With electricity access, these students can explore a bigger world of knowledge with the help of multimedia equipment that they can now fully use.”

The solar PV project in Lim Elementary School will benefit over 100 students and seven teachers.

“Our students used to have a challenging time studying since they cannot use facilities such as audiovisual equipment that can aid them in their studies before. Now, we see our students becoming more active in school since we can now use different equipment like television that can enhance their learning experience,” school head Shirley Cario said.

Aside from Lim Elementary School, OMF recently energized Sibolo Elementary School in Sibolo Island, also in Antique. The 1-kilowatt peak (kWp) portable solar PV project benefitted 145 students and seven teachers.

In Antique alone, OMF’s electrification program has provided solar PV systems to seven schools since 2015, giving an access to electricity to over 1,200 students and 46 teachers.

Throughout the country, OMF’s electrification projects are present in the provinces of Albay, Batangas, Bulacan, Cagayan Valley, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Quezon, Rizal, Romblon, Tarlac, Antique, Bohol, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Western Samar, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga Del Norte.

“Since the program started, at least 300 kWp total capacity has been installed. Each school gets an average of 1 kWp to 3 kWp solar PV systems,” OMF added.

OMF’s electrification program started in 2012. (PNA)