The Department of Education in Negros Oriental received 36 new laptops amounting over P1 million from Green Core Geothermal Inc.
The laptops are for the 12 public schools located in the highlands of Valencia town.
Valencia is home to the Palinpinon Geothermal Field, where Energy Development Corp. operates the Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field, including the Palinpinon 1 and Palinpinon 2 geothermal power plants.
DepEd Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Neri Ojastro lauded their partnership with GCGI as it benefits the students in the communities around EDC’s power plants.
“I’d like to thank EDC for this program that will benefit our learners and our teachers in the field. Education is the energy that gives us the power to live in a quite complicated community and life,” said Ojastro.
He added that the partnership aims to develop the learners and “make them productive people of the community in the future.”
GCGI disclosed that they will donate school supplies, raincoats, and laptops for learners enrolled in the 12 public elementary schools.
Each of the following schools in the off-grid areas of Valencia District received three laptops, namely: 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.
The donation was turned over by EDC-Negros Facility head Noel Tan and Negros Corporate Relations head Erwin Magallanes to representatives of DepEd and the principals and teachers of the schools.
EDC’s corporate relations head Erwin Magallanes reaffirmed EDC’s commitment to education through its SIKAT program.
SIKAT, EDC’s flagship program, equips Filipino youth with the knowledge and skills to lead in their communities.
“Under the SIKAT school initiative, sumisikat ang pag-asa (hope remains alive). This is because the light that we bring illuminates every classroom to transform learners into future change drivers,” he said.
“It is our hope that this laptop will significantly contribute to our educators’ and learners’ educational enhancement, explore online tools, improve engagement, and provide access to a wider and wider range of learning resources,” he added.
Barangay Apolong barangay captain Marlon Lorico shared that the laptops will be a great benefit to the learners in their area.
“Dako kaayo na siyag ikatabang sa elementary school sa among barangay kay sa pagkakaron, kulang pa man dagay among eskwelahan ug mga kagamitan para sa mga in ana—mga laptops—para sa among learners, mga bata,” said Lorico.
(This will really help the elementary school in our barangay because right now, our school still lacks equipment like laptops.)
Sharon Tolomia, principal of Palinpinon Elementary School, said the laptops will be useful for both the students and the teachers as it will provide access to a wider range of learning resources.
“These laptops will be used by the teachers for instructional use. We do not usually use Manila paper or other sessional materials with the use of paper. We usually use our PowerPoint presentation, so this is a big help to the teachers,” said Tolomia. (JCT/PIA7 NegOr, with reports from Ryan Rikaz Ibrahim, SU Masscom intern)
