The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has reaffirmed its commitment to energize all last-mile schools across the country within the next three years.
NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda called for support of electric cooperatives (ECs) to fulfill the mandate, in the presence of Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, during the closing ceremony of the three-day NEA-EC Convergence at SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City on Saturday, August 9.
He said “2,359, remember this number of our last-mile schools that we still have to energize. I am now asking for your support. Let’s do this”.
Almeda said he promised President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that an initial 295 schools would be energized before the end of 2025.
“After the 295 schools,, we still have 1,900 more to complete before the end of President Bongbong Marcos’ term [in 2028],” he added.
Last February, NEA and DepEd entered into a memorandum of agreement “to ensure that last-mile schools in off-grid and underserved areas gain access to reliable electricity, enabling learners to build a strong educational foundation and seize more opportunities”.
NEA’s partner, the University of the Philippines, provides technical expertise in designing electrification systems and programs that are “sustainable, scalable, and tailored to the needs of schools in remote, geographically isolated communities.”
In time for the opening of classes last June, Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School, an off-grid school in Sitio Tagpangi, Barangay Simbalan, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, became the first to benefit from the Last-Mile School Electrification Program, now equipped with solar power and internet connectivity.
In his message, Angara stressed that electricity in last-mile schools must no longer be a luxury but a fundamental right.
He urged NEA and the ECs to continue working with DepEd toward “an education system where every basic need is met.”
“Let us continue working hand in hand as one collective force. Every Filipino child deserves an education that is just, that is equitable, that is relevant. In this century, access to power should be non-negotiable. As we celebrate NEA’s 56th founding anniversary, let it be a call to action to continue bringing light and comfort to every Filipino,” he added.
This year’s NEA-EC Convergence, in partnership with the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. and other allied organizations, was attended by officials and personnel from 121 ECs nationwide.
Themed “Powering the Future,” the summit coincided with the observance of the 16th National Electrification Awareness Month.*PNA