At least 295 schools in far-flung communities, or the so-called ‘last mile,’ will receive access to electricity this year as part of the ongoing collaboration between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
In a news release published Thursday, the NEA through Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda reported to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that more schools in remote villages will be provided with solar-powered energy systems under the DepEd ‘Last Mile School’ electrification program.
Almeda made the announcement after he and DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara held a ceremonial energization of the Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School in Sitio Tagpangi, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte which served as the pilot site for the project.
“We are installing the first Solar Power System under this initiative—a vital step that will empower students to learn and equip teachers to broaden their teaching methods,” Almeda said in his speech at the ceremonial energization delivered in Tagalog.
The DepEd earmarked a total of P1.295-billion for the ‘Last Mile Schools’ electrification program following a memorandum of agreement it signed with the NEA last February 5, 2025.
The NEA in partnership with the Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANECO) selected Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School in Sitio Tagpangi—home of the Higaonon ethnic community—as pilot beneficiary after an onsite inspection last February 22.
Almeda noted that the solar-powered energy system would benefit not only the elementary school, but also the surrounding households near it. “I believe that education is the key to progress, which is why NEA fully supports the electrification of schools and households,” he said.
In a virtual chat with President Marcos, Angara reported that the area was two hours away from Butuan City and could not be reached without crossing two rivers. This made the project all the more crucial for the students and teachers at the said school.
“We crossed two rivers to get here. This is an IP (indigenous peoples) school. They got their electricity first (on) Monday. Thanks to the quick work of NEA and DOE (Department of Energy),” Angara said in a video streamed live via RTVM.
Agusan del Norte Gov. Angelica Amante thanked President Marcos for the project, which made the students at the beneficiary school now “very excited to go to school.”
The energization of Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School is a direct response to President Marcos’ marching order for the DepEd and other relevant government agencies to prioritize education stakeholders, who remain without access to basic electricity and internet services.
The ‘Last Mile School’ electrification program is part of ongoing widespread efforts to support a number of Filipino students in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, who are struggling to keep up with their educational development.
