LightEd PH Campaign launches by DepED to light up off grid

schools nationwide
The Department of Education (DepEd) launched its nationwide LightEd PH
Campaign to light up schools and homes and make school childrens study
at night more convenient and conducive for quality learning.
The launch was held at the Bulwagang Karunungan at the DepEd
headquarters in Pasig City in partnership with several other government
agencies and private entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
such as the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Department of
Energy (DOE), National Electrification Administration (NEA), Don Andres
Soriano Foundation and Meralco, among others.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that the LightEd Campaign is meant
to provide solutions to schools and homes that have no power through
conventional and alternative use of energy.
Luistro said that as of school year 2013-2914, there were 5,954 schools
countrywide that were either unenergized or were remote and off-grid areas
where at least 1,101,051 pupils and students whose access to technology,
enhanced instructional methods and more engaging learning activities were
limited.
Dont let darkness hinder any Filipino child from education he or she
deserves, he added.
For his part, DepEd Undersecretary for Partnership and External Linkages
Mario A. Deriquito, said that the health of these students is also at risk due to
the use of kerosene lamps that emit harmful fumes but is the only means for
them to study at night.
Under LightEd PH, the DepEd will implement the One Child, One Lamp
program in partnership with Childrens Hour and PBSP to raise funds for solar
lamps that will be distributed to pupils/students in far-flung areas or where
off-grid public schools are located.
DepEd has also partnered with Global Peace Foundation, Thrive Solar Energy
Philippines, Stiftung Solarenergie and other organizations to provide minisolar LED lamps that can be used up to 10 hours after three to four hours of
charging during the day.
At a cost of PhP400 each, these solar lamps are also water- and shock-proof
resistant, produce white light that is better than that of kerosene lamp and
do not emit harmful gas or fume.

Once they reach the beneficiary schools, these solar lamps will be lent to
students in a manner similar to that of lending library books in order to
ensure proper usage and maintenance.
Luistro said the public is encouraged to help DepEd by funding or donations
to acquire the solar lamps, logistic assistance to distribute the lamps to the
different sites, volunteering to train beneficiary schools in the usage and
maintenance of solar lamps and spreading awareness on the campaign to
increase support.
Donors may donate or give a solar lamp to one child or give up an equivalent
of one hour of their salary through the Childrens Hour Philippines.
A company can donate an equivalent amount to match employees
donations or the equivalent profits or earnings of an hour of business or
trade.
In collaboration with the DOE and private power or energy corporations,
DepEd will furnish off-grid schools with solar energy sets and solar panels to
serve as stand-alone and self-sustaining technology system to power the
school.
For on-grid schools or places that have been already reached by electricity
but has continued to be unenergized, DepEd said it is cooperating with the
NEA to encourage local electric cooperatives to extend power lines to the
service drop near the school premises.
Once energized, the schools will be provided by DepEd with information and
communication technology (ICT) packages, including computers, laptops,
speakers and projectors.