Baliwet Elementary School in Barangay Sta. Fe, San Marcelino, Zambales is the newest member of the AuroraPH club of the Aboitiz Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group, the first techglomerate in the country.

AuroraPH is the foundation’s project that energizes and digitalizes schools that are off-grid or without reliable electricity and have no connectivity. The foundation and its partners donate solar energy systems and satellite internet equipment to improve the learning experience and quality of students and teachers of last-mile schools of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Aboitiz Foundation, in partnership with utility company Subic Enerzone and solar power system provider Infinite Solar Philippines, installed the SPS on the roof of the Baliwet ES last month. Today is the ceremonial turnover of the donated AuroraPH package to the said school catering to indigenous Aeta students.

Leading the turnover are San Marcelino Mayor Elvis R. Soria, Aboitiz Foundation president Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Subic Enerzone deputy chief operating officer Justin Jay Navarro, OIC-Office of the School’s Division Superintendent assistant schools division superintendent William Roderick Fallorin, and school head Oliver F. Pablo. 

The turnover comes on the heels of a new partner agreeing to support AuroraPH in energizing and digitalizing hundreds of last-mile schools of DepEd.

Aboitiz Foundation and ING Hubs Philippines signed a memorandum of agreement last week in which the global capability/shared-services hub for ING Bank will fund the solarization and connectivity of four public schools in Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan.

Under the partnership, the beneficiaries — Basyo Elementary School, Bato Elementary School, Kawit Elementary School and Pinag-Anakan Integrated School — each will have a solar photovoltaic systems installed — including a 6.5 kilowatt inverter, a hybrid battery system, mounting structures and internal wiring — to power lights, laptops, modems and appliances.