The National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have energized the new solar power facility at Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School in Sitio Tagpangi, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte—marking the first installation under the government’s P1.295-billion Last Mile Schools electrification program.
Launched through a February memorandum of agreement between the agencies, the initiative aims to bring power to unenergized and underserved schools across the country, using solar technology as a sustainable and cost-effective solution.
NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda described the project as “a vital step that will empower students to learn and equip teachers to broaden their teaching methods.” Beyond the school, nearby households are also expected to benefit from the new power source.
Under the partnership, DepEd handles project funding and identifies priority schools, while NEA, through local electric cooperatives, such as Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, oversees technical implementation, including installation and monitoring.
DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara noted that early deployments will focus on areas with the lowest electrification rates, especially in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Palawan, North Cotabato, and Sulu were cited as the provinces with the most unpowered schools.
NEA plans to energize 295 schools this year alone, ensuring no maintenance charges are imposed by cooperatives on participating schools.
