ANGELES CITY – The city’s smallest public elementary school – Belen Homesite Elementary School, all of eight classrooms and 187 students – gets to be the first to benefit from the city’s shift to renewable energy.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. said solar panels will be installed at the school to power up split-type air conditioners and smart TVs to make more learning conducive for students.
The mayor said he plans to do the same in all public schools in the 33 barangays.
On August 5, city officials led by Lazatin chief adviser IC Calaguas, Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, general services officer Evangeline Malonzo, city engineer’s office OIC Helen Ayro, and Engr. Giovanni Aquino conducted ocular inspection at the Belen Homesite Elementary School.
The school will be the pioneer solar-powered and fully airconditioned elementary school in the city.
Lazatin’s move for the city to engage in renewable energy is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s announcement that public schools will shift to solar power.
The budget for the solar power project in public schools will not be drawn from the Special Education Fund but from the budget of the Office of the Mayor.
Mayor Lazatin will also donate chairs for the schools out of his own pocket.
It can be recalled that Lazatin had also planned to put solar panels in all government offices, 33 barangays, and the six rural health units in the city by October 2024.
Lazatin said the use of renewable energy will allow for a more prudent use of electricity that would allow the city government to save P100 million in electricity expenses a year.
“We have to tap renewable energy that is most cost-effective and cost-efficient,” said the mayor who is an advocate of clean energy and environmental protection.
In a related development, solar lights will also be installed in all major and secondary roads in Angeles City by October 2024. A total of 1,500 solar lights were already purchased for the project.
The use of renewable energy that will reduce dependence on fossil fuel which powers most electric plants is expected to be most cost-efficient to the city government. The expected P100 million savings would allow the city government to allocate funds for other social projects.
