After years of reading in the dark, the students and teachers of Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School in Sitio Tagpangi—a remote community in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte—will finally experience what it’s like to learn in well-lit classrooms.
The Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Energy (DOE) and National Electrification Administration (NEA) led an energization ceremony at the off-grid learning institution as part of the P1.295-billion ‘Last Mile Schools’ electrification program of the Marcos administration.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara and his team crossed two rivers and navigated remote mountain roads to witness the school’s transformation through the P1.295-billion Last Mile Schools Electrification program.
“This is an IP school. They got their electricity first Monday, thanks to the quick work of NEA and DOE,” Angara reported during a live virtual dialogue with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who joined the event from Quezon City.
“This is the first school. After the successful launch, they will roll out simultaneously,” Angara added.
The project was carried out following a memorandum of agreement signed between Administrator Almeda and DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara last February.
DepEd covered the funding from its 2025 budget and the NEA facilitated its on-site implementation with the Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANECO).
“We are installing the first Solar Power System under this initiative—a vital step that will empower students to learn and equip teachers to broaden their teaching methods.”
“We are installing the first Solar Power System under this initiative—a vital step that will empower students to learn and equip teachers to broaden their teaching methods,” NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said.
NEA and ANECO held a site inspection in February to ensure that the school qualifies for the program. Almeda noted that the solar-powered energy system would benefit not only the elementary school, but also the surrounding households near the school.
“Education is the key to progress, which is why NEA fully supports the electrification of schools and households.”
“I believe that education is the key to progress, which is why NEA fully supports the electrification of schools and households,” the NEA chief stressed.
The energization of Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School is a direct response to the President’s marching order for the DepEd and other relevant government agencies to prioritize education stakeholders, who remain without access to basic electricity and internet services.
Marcos, who also participated in the energization ceremony via virtual conference, welcomed Almeda’s report that the NEA will be rolling out 295 projects under the ‘Last Mile School’ electrification program within the year.
The ‘Last Mile School’ electrification program is part of ongoing widespread efforts to support a number of Filipino students who are struggling to learn and keep up with their educational development.
Also present at the energization ceremony were Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante, 2nd District Representative Dale Corvera, Buenavista Mayor Joselito Roble, DepEd Undersecretaries Trygve Olaivar and Peter Corvera, Caraga Regional Director Maria Ines Asuncion, TESDA Provincial Director Rey Cueva, FDC Misamis Power Corporation President and CEO Juan Eugenio Roxas, ANECO General Manager Engr. Darwin Daymiel, Board President Romeo Gumadlas, as well as the community leaders of Sitio Tagpangi and officials of Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School.
