EU funds solar power project for public schools

The European Union (EU) has allotted 2.2 million euros or about P120 million to provide solar power to 16 public schools in Cebu, Bohol and Palawan, which are not connected to the electricity grid.

Dubbed “Project Renewable Energy for Livelihood and Youth (Rely),” the initiative is backed by the EU-Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (Asep) and combines solar electrification with community development and improved vocational education.

The EU and project proponents sequa gGmbH, Vivant Foundation (VFI), and Process-Bohol led the launch of the project yesterday in Cebu City.

“We are honored that our proposal was selected by the EU and we thus get the opportunity to implement another project that will contribute to a better future for poor and remote communities,” Sabine Schacknat, sequa’s project director for Rely, said in a statement.

“Solar electrification of the schools is now accompanied by awareness raising activities on renewable energy and climate change for all stakeholders and by support to the communities in improving their livelihoods,” Schacknat said.

She added sequa teamed up with VFI, having seen the potential of the latter’s Project Liadlaw.

Through Project Liadlaw, VFI installed a 50-kilowatt rooftop solar system at the Hilotongan Integrated School in an island-barangay off Cebu.

To ensure the sustainability of the off-grid energization project, VFI worked with DepEd and Tesda to introduce an enhanced curriculum for the EIM track offering at the Bantayan Senior High School, which incorporates solar energy.

Components of Project Liadlaw are replicated in Rely and expanded to involve the entire community. —RONNEL W. DOMINGO