Access to education remains hampered in many parts of the Philippines, not by a lack of will to learn but by the absence of basic infrastructure. According to the Department of Education, more than 1,500 public schools across the country still operate without electricity. For these communities, the simple act of turning on a light bulb or connecting to the internet remains out of reach, limiting both students and teachers from maximizing modern methods of learning.

A study by the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies found that elementary schools with electricity performed 12 percent better in the National Achievement Test compared to those without. Secondary schools also registered a 10 percent advantage. The presence of reliable electricity is not just a matter of convenience but a decisive factor in closing the learning gap.

To help these disadvantaged schools, the Aboitiz Foundation, together with AboitizPower, launched the AuroraPH initiative. Beginning in 2024, AuroraPH has been bringing renewable energy, internet connectivity, and digital learning tools to last-mile schools across the Philippines. The program is guided by the One New Aboitiz Sustainability Framework, which emphasizes preparing future leaders, empowering communities with tools for livelihood, and advancing climate action.

At its core, AuroraPH is founded on the belief that access to energy and technology is vital to shaping the next generation of leaders. By equipping far-flung schools with solar power and internet access, teachers can now use digital tools to enhance classroom instruction. Lessons that were once confined to chalkboards and textbooks can be brought to life through videos, interactive content, and online resources.

Teachers are not left behind in this transformation. AuroraPH provides capacity-building sessions, ensuring that educators are equipped with tools and knowledge to integrate them effectively into their teaching. This holistic approach empowers both students and teachers, enabling classrooms to catch up with their peers in urban centers.

“AuroraPH is about bringing light, learning, and lasting change to our future leaders. By sustainably powering up 300 last-mile schools, we’re not just lighting classrooms — we’re helping children gain equal access to education and opportunities in a digital world,” said Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, president of Aboitiz Foundation. “It’s about building a brighter and more sustainable future for the next generation.”

AuroraPH’s vision is best seen in the schools it has already reached. In Davao City, the Kabangbang and Lapinig elementary schools endured decades without electricity. That changed when Davao Light and Power Co., an AboitizPower distribution utility, together with the Aboitiz Foundation, installed five-kilowatt solar panels with battery storage in both schools. Classrooms that were once limited by daylight now thrive under electric lights. Teachers are able to use televisions, laptops, and mobile devices to enrich their lessons, making learning more engaging and dynamic for their students.

In the mountainous sitios of Benguet, three schools — Bakian Guinawan Elementary School, Marcelo Marquez National High School, and Pimingan Elementary School — faced similar challenges. Located off-grid, these schools struggled to deliver modern education. Through AuroraPH, they were equipped with solar panels, batteries, Wi-Fi, and supplemental tools. These additions expanded teaching methods and provided students with a more inclusive and equitable education.

Meanwhile, in Bataan, the Biaan Aeta Integrated School became the first on-grid school to benefit from AuroraPH. In partnership with GNPower Mariveles Energy Center and GNPower Dinginin, the initiative provided solar panels, batteries, and internet systems. Teachers and staff underwent training in operations, maintenance, and financial literacy, ensuring the sustainability of the project while fostering responsibility within the school community.

AuroraPH contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. By enabling access to electricity and the internet, the initiative helps bridge systemic educational gaps that have long disadvantaged students in remote communities.

The program also aligns with the broader developmental vision of the Aboitiz Group. By integrating renewable energy into schools, AuroraPH also demonstrates climate action and the reduction of carbon footprints via practical applications of clean energy in everyday life. At the same time, by preparing teachers and learners with digital skills, the program strengthens local capacity for future employment and entrepreneurial growth in the digital economy.

AuroraPH highlights how corporate social responsibility (CSR), when combined with local community participation, can make a profound difference in addressing a community’s needs. Besides the installation of solar panels, batteries and internet systems, the initiative invests in training, ensuring that both teachers and students are able to maximize new technologies. This collaborative model creates a sense of ownership within the schools, building resilience and continuity.

Through AuroraPH and other CSR programs, AboitizPower positions itself as a responsible partner to its host communities — one who bridges gaps and helps shape a future where no Filipino learner is left behind because of geography or lack of infrastructure.

The journey to energize last-mile schools in the Philippines is far from over. But with each school that lights up and connects to the world, the vision of Transforming Energy for a Better World becomes more tangible. AuroraPH is proof that sustainable power can illuminate more than just classrooms — it can also ignite hope, unlock potential, and fuel the aspirations of the country’s future leaders.