POWER OF THE SUN

ROLANDO P. PANTIG

One of the main goal of the Department of Education is building partnership through collaboration. Diaz Elementary school, a multi-grade school intended for the Aeta children situated at the highest peak mountains of Porac, and a satellite school then of Villa Maria Integrated School.

The school has no source of electricity considering the distance from the town proper, and the up and down terrain of the road going to the school. Following the mission of the department, as steward of learning and ensure an enabling and supportive environment for effective learning to happen, and a leader that nurture learners, partners were contact and made through outreach programs.

The One Meralco Foundation Inc. then, got an eye of the present situation of the said school.

The school head and the representative of One Meralco Foundation, Rainier R. Manguat met and agreed on the conditions and requirements set by the non-government entity, with the presence of the District Supervisor then of Porac East, Mr. Teodulo P. Esguerra Jr. at the office of the Schools Division Superintendent, Officer-In-Charge, Leonardo D. Zapanta, Ed. D., CESO VI of the Division of Pampanga.

A seven hundred thousand pesos worth of solar powered equipment be placed to the elementary school of barangay Diaz Porac. An initial meeting with the barangay chieftain as well as the PTA officers and learners were given orientation about the program.

It takes one to two months spend due to weather conditions to light-up the whole school. The project was inaugurated and turn over to the people of Diaz during the birthday of the Chairman of Meralco, Manuel V. Pangilinan, with the presence of the Municipal Executives of Porac, Pampanga. Pupils were interviewed then on the importance of electricity in the barangay.

The school is the 100th recipient Solar Powered Electricity of the Foundation, the only solar powered school in the Division of Pampanga and it serves now as the charging station, light source of the community. The school was also recipient of one LED TV, three stand fans, three-in-one printer for educational purposes.

Now, the small ayta community is enjoying the privileged given by One Meralco Foundation keeping the banner “Sa Meralco may liwanag ang buhay.” As of this moment, the community was given electrical line from Pampanga Electric Cooperative II through the effort of their incumbent Barangay Captain.

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The author is Head Teacher III at Becuran High School