17 South Cot schools get solar power kits

Seventeen public elementary schools in South Cotabato have received solar power packages from a Germany-based engineering solutions and energy company.
The 34 units of solar power kits were formally turned over Monday to the recipient-schools by officials of NV Vogt Philippines Solar Energy One Inc., which operates a 5-megawatt (MW) solar in Surallah town in South Cotabato.
NV Vogt is being backed as venture partner by ib vogt GmbH, which is based in Berlin, Germany.
Reynaldo Casas, NV Vogt project president, said the provision of the solar power kits is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility program.
He said they decided to provide the kits to the 17 elementary schools based on a recommendation from the Department of Education (DepEd) in South Cotabato.
“The recipients are all schools that have no electricity,” he said during the turnover ceremony held at the provincial capitol in Koronadal City.
The recipient-schools received two units each of solar photovoltaic home lighting kits (PV/HLS), which is composed of 2 light-emitting diode or LED lamps, an HLS, a power adaptor, a mobile charging cord set, and a 10-watts PV panel with stand.
The packages were received by the principals and school heads of the recipient public schools from the municipalities of Lake Sebu, Tboli and Surallah.
These are the Bulol Lahak Elementary School (ES) of Barangay Klubi, T’boyong ES of Lamfugon and Lembuto Primary School of Lamlahak in Lake Sebu; Lubol Integrated School and Kiantay ES of Upper Sepaka in Surallah.
In T’boli, the recipients are Basag ES of Salacafe; Demamis ES, Dangking ES and Salabanog ES of Laconon; Kebuling ES of Basag; Talambong ES and Motokling ES of Mongocayo; and, Balnabo ES, Datal Tablo ES, Datal Colon ES, and Bengue ES of Maan.
Mario Madrero, DepEd-South Cotabato assistant superintendent, said there are at least 41 schools in the province, mostly in the primary and elementary levels, that do not have access to electricity.
With the provision of the 34 solar power kits, the official said the number has gone down to 24 so far.
“This is really a big help to our schools and we hope that this program will expand later on,” he said.
NV Vogt eight-hectare solar farm and power plant facilities in Barangay Centrala in Surallah started its operations early this year.
The facility is currently augmenting the power needs of the South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative, which serves parts of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes earlier endorsed a 10-year tax holiday for NV Vogt. (PNA)