ANGELES, Philippines – Close to 200 students at the Belen Homesite Elementary School in Angeles City, Pampanga, are now studying in a setting that’s as forward-thinking as it is efficient – a fully solar-powered public school, a first in Central Luzon.
Fifty-four solar panels, humming along to generate 32 kilowatts of energy, power seven air-conditioned classrooms for 189 students across the school’s five buildings. The project is a calculated P4-million investment in renewable energy that could redefine the landscape of public education in the region.
Angeles Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said the project pioneers as a national showcase of a local initiative to modernize public schools by integrating renewable energy for long-term efficiency and sustainability.
“This is fully funded by the city government. This is an important step in promoting sustainability for us to also show that we can harness renewable energy for our schools,” Lazatin told reporters during its inauguration on Thursday, March 6.
Lazatin said the school could save at least P100,000 annually, although it will take about three months for the full benefits to be realized as the solar power system gradually replaces conventional electricity use.
The school’s monthly electric bill of roughly P8,000 means that its annual P180,000 electricity budget will now be redirected to improvements such as new wash areas, roof shades, and benches.
Lazatin said city hall plans to extend the solar program to all public schools in Angeles, and they will be prioritized based on their energy needs.
School principal Mary Ann Tenidor said the project ensures learning continuity even during extreme weather events and added that the shift toward renewable energy is an investment in the city’s environmental future and well-being of the students.
“This installation is timely and significant, answering the global call for renewable energy to combat climate change,” Tenidor said. “We are privileged to be chosen as the pilot school for a fully solar-powered school in the region.”
In 2024, rising temperatures forced local governments in Central Luzon to pull the plug on face-to-face classes. In Angeles alone, where temperatures soared past 45 degrees Celsius, officials had no choice but to cancel afternoon sessions to shield students from the brutal heat.
Local government offices in Angeles, including 33 barangay halls, six rural health units, and 20 offsite offices, have been equipped, too, with solar power systems. City hall has also installed 1,500 solar street lights along major thoroughfares and secondary roads.
Lazatin said the investment in renewable energy resulted in substantial savings, and city hall was already on track to reduce its electricity costs of about P100 million annually. – Rappler.com