Upsilon Sigma Phi ‘93, DOE electrify war-torn Sulu school

DOE Undersecretary and Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch 1993 member Wimpy Fuentebella delivers an inspirational talk to Kagay Elementary School students.

Armed conflict has deprived residents of Talipao, Sulu of three of the most basic necessities: electricity, education, peace.

Children, in particular, are the most affected as they have to endure so much at a young age when they should be just be playing and studying.

Thanks to organizations like the Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch 1993, the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association and Resident Fellows, the Kagay Elementary School was the recipient of a fully-equipped Multi-Media Learning Center (MMLC).

In cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) and its 2nd Special Forces Battalion, SFRA, Philippine Army and the Department of Energy, the #UPSILONparasaBayan project donated an S145-14IWL Lenovo computer, Bose sound system, Epson wide-screen projector, Pixma portable printer and two electric fans, all powered by the first off-grid rooftop solar with battery power system.

The project, fully funded by the members of Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch 1993, was installed by the Philippine National Oil Company Renewables Corporation (PNOC-RC), with the AFP WestMinCom providing the logistical support and in coordination with local officials of the Municipality of Talipao and Barangay Kagay.

DOE Undersecretary and Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch 1993 member Wimpy Fuentebella (in red) oversees the distribution of school bags and supplies for students of Kagay Elementary School.

Kagay ES was established in 1982 and is located at the center of Barangay Kagay in Talipao.

It also serves neighboring barangays in Talipao and Patikul, such as Lower Kamuntayan, Upper Kamuntayan, Lumbayao and Upper Sinumaan with just 10 teachers and 380 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

Barangay Kagay and the nearby barangays bear the brunt of the unstable peace and order situation and its primary school does not have electricity.

The Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association, Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch 1993 and the 2nd Special Forces Battalion agreed that with better educational resources, the children in Talipao and Patikul can have better opportunities.

The project was presented to the Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi by his Undersecretary, Wimpy Fuentebella, who is also a member of Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch 1993.

The mission of the DOE was to make this as “the first of many that will be replicated in the war-torn areas of the country.”

The DOE and Upsilon’s Batch ‘93 tapped the PNOC-RC to design and install the 2.28 kWp solar with 189.6Vdc and 9.02A battery system which can provide power to the basic necessities of the MMLC for the school children.

The designed MMLC should be able to power an 80-watt computer, 300-watt projector, 200-watt sound system, printer, two units of 40-watt electric fans, four units of 5-watt lighting facilities. It includes a secured battery storage area for the safety requirements of the system.

Cusi approved the mission and instructed Fuentebella to proceed.

WesMin Commander General Cirilito Sobejana gave his full support to the project.

From its inception on 1 July 2019, the project was inaugurated on 31 August.

In addition to the solar with battery system, Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch 1993 also donated 350 Banapple school bags with school supplies for Kindergarten to Grade 5 students while the DOE gave away 50 solar lamps to the 37 sixth graders and 10 teachers.

The Department of Education also provided software instruction materials for Grade 4 to Grade 6 students.

The event was led by WesMin Commander General Cirilito Sobejana and also graced by AFP Judge Advocate General Reserve Peter Suchianco (Upsilon Sigma Phi Batch 1983 and chair of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association), alumni and resident fellows of the Upsilon Sigma Phi, Talipao Mayor Nivocadnezar Tulawie and other local officials, school head Reckman Abtong, teachers and parents.

“Our coming here has nothing to do with our military operations, but we are here for our peace and development campaign. Let us stand united and turn Sulu from terrorism to tourism,” Gen. Sobejana concluded.