LAZATIN TO ESTABLISH 1ST FULLY SOLAR-POWERED PUBLIC SCHOOL IN ANGELES CITY

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Admin

ANGELES CITY – In a trailblazing move, the Angeles City Government, led by Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., will establish the first-ever fully solar-powered public elementary school in this city at the Belen Homesite Elementary School.

Solar panels installed at the Belen Homesite Elementary School, which caters to 187 students, will power split-type air-conditioners and smart TVs in eight classrooms.

On Monday, Angeles City officials led by Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, General Services Officer Evangeline Malonzo, City Engineer’s Office (CEO) Officer-in-Charge Helen Ayro, and Engr. Giovanni Aquino of CEO, have conducted ocular inspection at the Belen Homesite Elementary School.

Eventually, Mayor Lazatin plans to have solar panels installed in all public schools in the 33 barangays of Angeles City.

The move to engage in renewable energy is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s announcement that public schools will shift to solar power.

The budget for the solar power project in public schools will not be drawn from the Special Education Fund but from the budget of the Office of the Mayor.

Mayor Lazatin will also donate chairs for the schools out of his own pocket.

It can be recalled that Mayor Lazatin had also planned to put solar panels in all government offices, 33 barangays, and the six Rural Health Units in the city by October 2024.

Mayor Lazatin said the use of renewable energy will allow for a more prudent use of electricity that would allow the city government to save P100 million in electricity expenses a year.

“We have to tap renewable energy that is most cost-effective and cost-efficient,” according to Mayor Lazatin, who is an advocate of clean energy and environmental protection.

In a related development, solar lights will also be installed in all major and secondary roads in Angeles City by October 2024. A total of 1,500 solar lights were already purchased for the project.

The use of renewable energy that will reduce dependence on fossil fuel which powers most electric plants is expected to be most cost-efficient to the city government. The expected P100 million savings would allow the City Government to allocate funds for other social projects.

If completed by 2024, Angeles City will be one of the few Local Government Units to use solar energy in the country.