The Department of Education (DepEd) Ormoc City and Kananga Divisions is fully supporting the GeoSkwela project of First Gen-owned renewable energy leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC), which aims to provide more valuable information on the importance of renewable energy to K12 students.

DepEd Schools Division Superintendent of Leyte Dr. Mariza Magan, Ed. DCESO V lauded EDC for the GeoSkwela project that was formally launched on Friday at the PARES Function Hall, Ormoc City.

“EDC has been our partner in education since I joined DepEd years back. I really appreciate the undertaking of EDC to ensure environmental stewardship perfectly aligns with DepEd’s vision of caring for the environment.”

Dubbed as GeoSkwela, the online platform is a supplementary learning website that seeks to help teachers discuss difficult Science topics such as energy transformation, sources, generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as the environmental impacts of energy generation.

“EDC officially launched the GeoSkwela learning management system (LMS) portal and conducted a one-day training on its use and features, with the help of our resource speakers from the Knowledge Community. Through this site, the teachers can download reference materials, sample quizzes, experiments, and other activities that will help them comprehensively explain what energy is, how it works, and what its effects on the environment are,” explained Erwin Magallanes, Head of EDC’s Corporate Relations Department in Leyte.

He added that the site may help teachers create lesson plans for both face-to-face and online learning classes. “The contents of the online platform are aligned with the Science Curriculum of the Department of Education (DepEd) for Grades 6, 9, and 11,” Magallanes emphasized.

Aside from the GeoSkwela site, EDC also prepared printed materials or visual aids like booklets that were distributed to nine schools in the DepEd Division of Ormoc City and Kananga. The beneficiary schools include Tongonan in both divisions, Milagro, Lim-ao, Lake Danao, Cabintan Elementary Schools, and Pedro D Banez, Cabintan, and Lim-ao National High Schools.

Magallanes expressed his appreciation for the support of the DepEd in EDC’s advocacy. “We are grateful for the full support and commitment of the education department from the two divisions that we have been working with including our other CSR programs not only for SIKAT education activities but also for environment-related initiatives.”

“We also understand the challenge of Internet connectivity in some schools, this is why we also prepared booklets with five modules per grade level. These good-quality booklets are meant to be used by the students enrolled in the current school year and by the next batch of enrollees,” said Magallanes.

The launch event likewise emphasizes the importance of becoming regenerative by striving to do more good for the planet and society, which is what EDC’s revitalized mission to forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future is all about.

For EDC, being sustainable means doing less harm to our planet, while being regenerative means restoring it and making it better. The company believes that inspiring the youth to move forward and go beyond sustainability for a livable planet and a better tomorrow must start today.

EDC is First Gen Corporation’s 100 percent renewable energy subsidiary with over 1,480MW total installed capacity that accounts for 20 percent of the country’s total installed renewable energy capacity. Its almost 1,200MW geothermal portfolio comprises 62 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity and has put the Philippines on the map as the 3rd largest geothermal producer in the world.(PR)

NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, N. Samar-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office spearheaded by OIC, District Engineer Charlito S. Carlobos and OIC, Assistant District Engineer Atty. Arthur Eric L. Sabong has completed another massive breakthrough project which is the construction of Mondragon-Silvino Lubos Road (Phase 5) located in Silvino Lubos, N. Samar funded under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity – PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (OPAPRU-PAMANA) was successfully inaugurated last June 16, 2023.

The program started with a ceremonial blessing officiated by Fr. Fred Placa followed by the words of welcome of board member Marites Gillamac where she said, “The realization of these projects brought our lives easier, as life before was even harder having no accessible roads and with the presence of insurgency here in the municipality of Silvino Lubos.” In the end, she expressed her utmost gratitude to the people behind the road completion and success.

The inauguration and turn-over graced by PAMANA National Project Management Office and the Chief of Staff of Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Atty. Wilben M. Mayor, Gov. Edwin Marino C. Ongchuan, 2nd District Rep. Harris Christopher M. Ongchuan, DPWH-NSSDEO OIC, District Engineer Charlito S. Carlobos, 2nd District Board Member Hon. Marites Gillamac, and Silvino Lubos Mayor Hon. Leo Jarito along with MGen. Francisco Ariel Felcidarion III (Ret.), Consultant, PAMANA-OPAPRU; MGen Camilo Ligayo, Commander 8ID-PA AFP; Col. Efren M. Morados, Brigade Commander, 803rd 8ID; Pcol. Alfredo Tadefa, Provincial Consultant Engr. David P. Adongay, Director – NSPPO, PNP, and Ms. Imelda C. Bonifacio, Program Manager I, Area Manager Unit-Eastern Visayas, OPAPRU officials and DPWH-NSSDEO staff and employees.

Meanwhile, DE Carlobos once uttered that the construction of the road is indeed noteworthy since it fulfills the mission of NSSDEO to connect this far-flung municipality with the rest of the population and market centers of Northern Samar in due time.

Through Mondragon-Silvino Lubos Road project having a total length of concrete road of 3,353.50 meters and 81.50 meters of Suba Bridge was completed last February 07, 2023, allows locale inhabitants to indulge easy, fast and convenient travel experience.

Into the bargain, it refines the local governance and security, improve the transportation system and promote economic development of Northern Samar, and it paved the way to connect with its neighboring municipalities for trade and transactions, and other socio-economic aspects that alleviates the state of living of the residents. Consequently, the local atmosphere has improved a lot.

Trade and commerce are on the go and has begun to flourish. Enterprising people started investing in the transport and even tourism industry as seen in the number of motorcycles plying in the area and visitor coming to the place.

In his message, DE Carlobos enunciated that, “The construction of this road is made possible through the support of the government and other partners who envisioned the need for improved transportation infrastructure, and I am very grateful for the unwavering support of OPAP-PAMANA, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, to the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn, to the Governor and Congressmen of the two districts of Northern Samar, and the late Congressman Emil Ong.”
(RONEL L. GALUPO, PIO Staff)