The Belen Homesite Elementary School in Angeles City will be the country’s first ever public school entirely powered by solar energy before the end of 2024. Contributed photo)
ANGELES CITY — An elementary school in Sto. Cristo village in this city is set to become the country’s first ever public school entirely powered by solar energy before the end of this year.
On Tuesday, Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. announced that Belen Homesite Elementary School has been selected as the beneficiary of the solar power project that he hoped would become a “showcase” in the country.
Currently, dozens of public schools in some parts of the country, like the cities of Makati and Dasmariñas, are partly powered by energy generated by solar panels.
Irish Calaguas, Lazatin’s chief adviser, told the Inquirer on Tuesday evening that the city government had inspected the Belen Homesite Elementary School and that actual installation of solar panels and equipment would soon follow.
“As of now, based on the mayor’s instructions, the preparation is on full blast. The city engineer’s office has already conducted electrical inspections for the air conditioners, smart televisions and, of course, the solar panels to be installed. P3 million was allotted for this project,” she said.
READ: Youth activists urge Marcos to deliver solar-powered schools
Calaguas said that about 60 solar panels ordered by the city government from a supplier were already delivered and would be installed soon.
“Mayor Lazatin hopes to make this project a showcase in the entire country and, hopefully, install solar power systems in some other schools in the city,” she said.
Calaguas said the 60 units of 500-watt solar panels could generate 30 kVA (kilo-volt-amperes) of electricity, which could power the air conditioning units and smart TVs the city would purchase for the school, as well as the lighting system.
The mayor’s chief adviser said the city government currently pays around P14,000 per month for the Belen Homesite Elementary School from the Special Education Fund.
‘Practical’
“Once we install the air conditioners and the TV sets, we expect the school’s monthly electric bill to rise to P60,000 a month. So converting it into a solar-powered school will not only be advocating the use of clean energy but will also be financially practical for the city,” Calaguas said.
The school has only nine classrooms and 187 students. It also has an office, a restroom building, and a covered court.
The rooftops of all the buildings, including the covered court, at Belen Homesite Elementary School would accommodate the solar panels.
In a statement, Lazatin said the project is in line with President Marcos Jr.’s recent announcement that public schools in the country would shift to solar power.
During his third state of the nation address on July 22, Marcos said digitalization and solar-powered electricity must now be standard features in schools and classrooms.
READ: 3rd Sona: Marcos vows more computers, solar power for education
Lazatin said the budget for this city’s solar power project would not come from the SEF but from the budget of the mayor’s office.
“We have to tap renewable energy that is most cost-effective and cost-efficient,” Lazatin, who described himself as an advocate of clean energy and environmental protection,” he said.
The mayor earlier disclosed his plan to install solar panels in all city government offices, the 33 village halls, and the six rural health units here.
He said some 1,500 solar street lights would also be installed along major and secondary roads in this city by the end of October this year.
Lazatin said the city government would be able to save P100 million a year once his plan to convert to solar energy is fully realized.
He said the saved amount could be allocated to social and health programs.
READ: 9 Makati public schools are now getting electric power from solar panels