News Update Philippine Remote areas to harness solar power

DAVAO CITY - More students from different schools that are hardly reached by modern technology in Mindanao will soon embrace change as a United States government-funded development agency eyes to build more solar-powered computer laboratories and water systems after it successfully turned over their first project in a remote community recently.

At present, the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) program has identified at least 200 rural schools that have been powered using solar panels and fitted with multimedia-based distance education equipment.

But the computer laboratory that was inaugurated at the Marilog Central Elementary School (MCES) was the first one, said Maria Cristina B. Cayetano, AMORE deputy chief of party, who attributed the participation of multinational firms that build microchips and alternative energy technologies to bring the computer laboratory project to life.

''We are celebrating a couple of firsts. AMORE's first solar-powered ICT project would hopefully not be the last,'' Cayetano said during the inauguration of the said project here.

This development has elated teachers who admitted that teaching in a remote area could sometimes be frustrating due to insufficient access to technology and electricity.

''These laptops will make computing of grades a lot easier and we could make more interesting lessons to our students. We are more inspired in performing our duties as educators,'' Melanie G. Crisologo, MCES master teacher, said.