An answered prayer – this is how a public school official sees Visayan Electric’s Brigada Eskwela Program, which not only ensures that students receive the quality education they deserve, but also that schools are safe from electricity-related accidents.
“Your program is the answered prayers of our schools,” Consolacion Public Schools District Supervisor Raul Jumao-as said during the handover ceremony for Polog Elementary School’s rewired electrical system, which was upgraded by Visayan Electric as part of the Brigada program.
Polog Elementary School is located in Cebu’s mountainous area of Consolacion and has only seven teachers and about 230 students. Although it wasn’t immediately obvious, Visayan Electric’s huge signage has also made it clear that it is a school.
“Nalipay ko kay gitubag sa Visayan Electric ang atong kinahanglan (I am grateful that Visayan Electric has addressed our needs),” Jumao-as added.
Dr. Venus Pepito, the school’s principal, also thanked the electric utility for resolving their main problem.
“Kadtong bag-o palang ko na assign diri last December 2021, ang pinakauna nakong nakita ang problema sa wiring, pero nalipay kaayo ko kay na address sa Visayan Electric in less than a year. (When I was first assigned here last December 2021, the first thing that I saw was the problem in our electrical wiring, but I am so happy that Visayan Electric was able to address it in less than a year),” she said.
Polog Elementary School is one of 113 public schools in the Philippines’ second-largest electric utility’s franchise area that have been reached out to as part of its Brigada Eskwela Program.
It upgraded the electrical wiring of public elementary schools in its franchise area and donated new school signages and tents in collaboration with the Aboitiz Foundation, and donated ceiling and exhaust fans and TVs in partnership with Vivant Foundation Inc.
This, as Visayan Electric believes that a high-quality education should consider not only the learning process itself, but also all aspects of learning, including the environment.
Mangabon Elementary School was another beneficiary of the electric utility’s initiative. It is located in Tagba-o, one of, if not the, farthest elementary schools in Cebu City’s northern section. Getting to school takes a lot of effort, time, and tire grip due to the steep, slick, and frequently extremely winding road.
Visayan Electric donated a Smart TV, exhaust fans, and industrial wall fans to the school in collaboration with its partner, Vivant Foundation Inc.
Mangabon Elementary School Principal Michelle P. Pador expressed her gratitude to Visayan Electric representatives for personally visiting the school and donating due to its isolation and difficulty being reached compared to other parts of the city. She mentioned how rare opportunities like this are.
In addition to Mangabon Elementary School and Polog Elementary School, the electric utility donated to 111 additional schools from various areas within its franchise in collaboration with Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. and Vivant Foundation, Inc.
Quennie Bronce, Visayan Electric’s reputation enhancement manager, emphasized the importance of the electric utility’s collaboration with the DepEd.
“We at Visayan Electric care for the safety of students and teachers, especially in schools located within our franchise area,” said Bronce. “We are committed to helping these schools get ready for face to face classes to give teachers and students the tools they need and to provide an environment that is conducive to learning.”
Visayan Electric serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, Naga, and the municipalities of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla, and San Fernando. The company’s non-energy community outreach initiatives are critical in advancing education, the environment, and community growth in its franchise area, and they are focused on educating and influencing young people, who will be the country’s future leaders.
