Power-less Bukidnon school gets its wish

DIGOS CITY—In the past, the 235 pupils of  Labuagon Elementary School in Kibawe town, Bukidnon province, had to endure the sweltering heat because the school not only had no electric fans, but had no electricity to begin with.

On March 25, the wish of the teachers and pupils at the school to have electricity was granted with the help of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and  First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative (Fibeco).

NGCP gave funds for the purchase of wiring materials while Fibeco provided free labor and donated drop wires, electric meters and a meter box to the school.

Principal Roger Zafra said that while the electricity would not be free, what NGCP and Fibeco did meant a lot to the school.

Henry Sy Jr., NGCP president and chief executive officer, said in a statement that the electrification project was part of NGCP’s effort to provide power to communities hosting the company’s transmission lines.

“This simple project will bring so much ease on the working conditions of students and teachers,” Sy said.

In Digos City, Abotiz firm Hedcor and Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative (Dasureco) also started lighting up 680 homes in 13 communities all over the province.

Godofredo Guya, Dasureco manager, said Hedcor and Dasureco initially connected houses in the barangays of Sibulan, Darong and Balasiao in Sta. Cruz town, Davao del Sur province.

Hedcor took the initiative to help the government accomplish the Sitio Electrification Program  and the Barangay Line Enhancement Program, which seek to bring power to all rural areas,  Guya said. Eldie S. Aguirre, Inquirer Mindanao