Initiative to Electrify Remote Public Schools

nergy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla expressed strong support for a new initiative to electrify approximately 1,500 remote public schools across the country. He underscored the project’s importance in ensuring that no school is left behind, no student is deprived of opportunity, and no community remains in darkness.

“The signing of this agreement is a testament to our shared commitment to illuminating every classroom, empowering every teacher, and unlocking the full potential of every learner,” Secretary Lotilla stated during the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) today, 05 February 2025. The event also marked the launch of the School Electrification Program for unenergized schools at the NEA Building in Diliman, Quezon City.

Spearheaded by DepEd and supported by NEA, the initiative seeks to create brighter futures for students in underserved communities by ensuring access to both education and electricity, regardless of location.

Secretary Lotilla also highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the broader goal of achieving nationwide household electrification by 2028. However, he pointed out that the current annual budget of approximately Php2-3 billion falls far short of the estimated Php85-100 billion required to meet this goal. Despite this financial gap, he emphasized the project’s significant economic benefits, projecting a Php500 billion return on investment in total electrification.

With sustained stakeholder support, Secretary Lotilla expressed confidence in realizing the nation’s shared vision of an electrified future for all Filipinos—where no school is left behind, no student is deprived of opportunity, and no community remains in darkness.