Puerto Princesa City has inaugurated its first solar-powered public school building, a ₱38.49-million structure that will not just supply additional classrooms but also act as a typhoon-resilient evacuation center during catastrophes.
Mayor Lucilo Bayron inaugurated the three-storey, nine-classroom structure at Valentin Macasaet Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Irawan on July 7.
He described the initiative as a component of the city’s commitment to enhancing education and disaster preparedness.
“This is a typhoon-resilient building. It was constructed to withstand typhoons. If a disaster strikes and some of our residents lose their homes, we can accommodate them here. That is one of the purposes of this building,” Bayron said.
The local government constructed the ₱38,485,533.39 structure as the first school facility to employ solar power as an alternative energy source. It is intended to fulfill Department of Education (DepEd) requirements and to provide safer and more comfortable learning areas for children.
Bayron stated that his administration remains committed to the city’s three foundational pillars of development: effective governance, quality healthcare, and education.
He also urged students to fully capitalize on the opportunity to learn.
“Not everyone is given the chance to go to school. While you have that opportunity, study hard because education is the key to a better future,” he said.
Honesto Teves, the city architect, said the 993-square-meter facility has modern classroom layouts, better ventilation, and a sturdy structure that can withstand various weather situations.
“This is the city’s first school building with solar power as an alternative source of energy,” he said.
“We are happy that this project was prioritized for our students,” he added.
Barangay Captain Rosana Araneta said the new facility comes at a time when enrollment in Barangay Irawan continues to grow due to increasing development in the area.
“Our student population is increasing because of the development in the barangay. This is a beautiful school building and it will be a big help to our school,” Araneta said.
The city government said the project aims to provide students with a modern learning environment while ensuring the facility can also be used to shelter residents during emergencies.
