In the mountainous terrains of Quezon, a first class municipality in Bukidnon, education has always been a path riddled with obstacles.
For children in off-grid areas like Sitio Gamot of Barangay Sta. Filomena, attending school is a daily journey, both literal and metaphorical, toward a better future. Without proper roads in their mountain villages, students must walk long distances just to access electricity — an unimaginable challenge for most.
But this story is changing, thanks to a remarkable initiative from Vivant Foundation, Inc. (VFI), the social responsibility arm of Vivant Corporation.
In an off-grid school in the community of Sitio Gamot, lights are coming on for the first time. Through the efforts of VFI and its partners, Gamot Integrated School (Gamot IS) is now solar-powered, representing a new chapter of learning and connectivity for the community’s youth.
For Sta. Filomena Barangay Chairman Ferdinand Silvestre, it’s a life-changing improvement. “Before the installation of the solar panels from Vivant, it would take the whole day for our students to reach the town proper to access electricity,” he recalled. He especially lamented how their previous situation has demotivated some students in the pursuit of their education.
This achievement, marked by the installation of over P2.2 million worth of rooftop solar panels, is more than just an technological breakthrough for the people of Sitio Gamot. It is a vehicle for the learning journey of hundreds of students who now have the digital world, and the opportunities it offers, within reach.
Milestones in addressing the education sector’s woes
The project itself is a landmark moment for Vivant Foundation. Executive Director Shem Jose Garcia emphasized that Gamot IS is the first mountain school, and the second Indigenous People (IP) community, to benefit from the foundation’s solar energization program.
It is part of the broader initiative known as Project Liadlaw, which aims to close the gap between urban and rural schools by providing off-grid areas access to modern technologies.
Garcia recalled the early days of Vivant Foundation’s efforts, a decade ago, when the K-12 system was newly implemented in the Philippines. There was a palpable sense of anxiety in the education sector, especially in off-grid communities that lacked access to technology, much less power.
“There was a big need to bridge the digital divide between schools in the cities and those in off-grid areas. More often than not, schools in remote areas would often be left behind,” Garcia explained.
VFI sought to address this and more. Beyond the electrification of off-grid schools, the foundation also worked to “create long-term solutions by partnering with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to develop a new solar power curriculum,” the executive director explained.
“This ensures that the solar energization projects are not only sustainable but that they also empower students with skills for the future,” he said.
Bridging the digital divide
The installation of solar panels at Gamot IS, made possible through Vivant Energy’s retail electricity unit Corenergy, along with partners Bukidnon Power Corporation (BPC) and North Bukidnon Power Corporation (NBPC), serves a dual purpose: Providing a sustainable source of energy and connecting the school to digital learning platforms.
The panels, generating 12.1 kilowatt peak (kWp) of electricity, are now powering the entire school for a full day. Alongside this, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) provided free internet access via Starlink, opening up new possibilities for e-learning.
GIS Principal Charito Agsalud lauded the profound impact of the solar energization in their school. "We are honored to be chosen as the beneficiary despite the remoteness of our location. We can say that our learners are now globally connected to the modern world through your electrification project,” she beamed.
Planting seeds of hope
At the turnover ceremony, Bienvenido Saniel III of Vivant Energy sought to inspire young learners with the story of a young boy named Benjie. Despite their financial struggles living as farmers, Saniel narrated, Benjie's parents instilled in him the importance of education. It was a visit by a group of professionals that ignited his passion for learning, showing him that education was not just a path to a stable job but a tool to uplift others.
Motivated by this realization, Benjie worked tirelessly, earning for himself a scholarship, and eventually completing his studies at a prestigious university. But his success wasn’t just about financial stability; he returned to his roots to help build a school in his community. To Benjie, Saniel concluded education was more than a means to an end – it was a way to spark positive change in others.
Quezon town Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III, in attendance at the turnover ceremony, echoed these sentiments. He called on the educators at Gamot Integrated School to make the most of this significant upgrade, not only in teaching academic subjects but also in helping students learn how to think critically and teach themselves.
Lighting the way forward
“This project is an investment in the future of our young learners,” the mayor said. “It’s up to their generation to become the leaders of tomorrow, and we are equipping them with the skills they need.”
As the foundation continues to expand its solar electrification efforts and other community outreach projects, GIS’s transformation stands as an example of what can be achieved through determination, collaboration, and a commitment to improving lives.
To date, 21 off-grid schools across the Philippines have benefited from Project Liadlaw. “As technology evolves, remote communities are often left behind,” Garcia remarked.
“This is why the foundation remains committed to bringing modern ways to address inequities, and help uplift these communities,” he continued. Vivant’s ethos, according to Garcia, is to create solutions for our changing world.
Throughout the project’s turnover ceremony, the exchange of inspiring stories and messages of gratitude illustrate what’s possible when the public and private sector work together. As the lights come on in more off-grid schools, young Filipinos full of potential find their path to a successful future illuminated.