Partylist lawmakers Mariano Piamonte and Julieta Cortuna have filed a measure requiring the installation of solar panels in public schools without electricity to improve the access to quality education of students in isolated and far-flung areas of the country.

Piamonte and Cortuna of the A-TEACHER partylist group said solar panels in “power-less” public schools will help students gain access to modern technologies such as computers and other electronic equipment that will greatly enhance their learning capabilities. 

A-TEACHER is a partylist ally of the National Unity Party (NUP) under the Coalition for Peace and Development.

“Public schools in some areas could not be provided with computers as  learning support tools because of the absence of electricity," Piamonte stressed.

”Because of the absence of electricity in some areas, the students in public schools suffer from educational content gap , which is an important content at that," Piamonte stressed.


The two solons said their measure--House Bill 4715—provides for the installation of solar panels with a minimum capacity of 200 watts in public schools without access to electric power. 

The solar panels that will be installed in school buildings shall include system components,  which include,  but are not limited to,  charge controllers, inverters and batteries for it to generate at least 200 watts of alternating current (AC) at a standard voltage of 220 volts.



Cortuna noted that the installation of 200-watt solar panels in selected classrooms or facilities will ensure that all schools nationwide will have power to energize basic teaching tools such as computers, printers and other laboratory equipment.

HB 4715  covers public elementary or high school buildings not smaller than the size of three classrooms in barangays where electrical line installation is not available.

Also covered under the measure is the school laboratory or educational support facility of any size located in barangays where electrical line installation is not available.