The Energy Development Corp. , the country’s leading geothermal power producer, has donated 36 brand-new laptops worth more than P1 million to 12 public schools in the upland barangays of Valencia, Negros Oriental to enhance digital learning and classroom instruction.
The donation was formally turned over by EDC-Negros Facility head Noel Tan and Negros Corporate Relations head Erwin Magallanes to representatives of the Department of Education Valencia District, including principals and teachers from the beneficiary schools, on Wednesday.
Each school received three laptops and three tree bags. The recipient schools are the Nasuji Elementary School, Puhagan Elementary School, Malaunay Elementary School, Dungga Primary School, Caidiocan Elementary School, Pulangbato Elementary School, Badiang Elementary School, Palinpinon Elementary School, Sagbang Elementary School, Vicente I. Villa Memorial School, Liptong Elementary School, and Malabo Elementary School.
Some of these schools are located in barangays that host EDC’s geothermal power facilities in the province.
Dr. Neri Ojastro, DepEd-Negros Oriental Division of Schools superintendent, thanked the EDC, saying the laptops would boost the students’ learning skills.
“Our ultimate goal in developing our learners is to make them productive people of the community in the region and the school is the future community,” Ojastro said.
EDC’s Magallanes emphasized that education remains one of the company’s core advocacy programs.
“It is better to provide new laptops, especially since older versions can no longer support modern applications,” he said.
Tan, meanwhile, expressed hope that the laptops would spark students’ curiosity in science and renewable energy, with the long-term goal of inspiring future scientists and engineers who might one day work with EDC.
“May these laptops enable you to develop innovative teaching methods and use digital tools to bridge educational gaps,” Tan said.
A memorandum of agreement was signed during the turnover ceremony, held at a local hotel in Dumaguete City.
Magallanes also said that 60 laptops have been earmarked for schools across the Negros Island Region, with 24 more units to be delivered next week to partner schools in Negros Occidental. (Judy F. Partlow)
