PSHS powered by the sun

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) in Diliman, Quezon City now uses solar-powered lights after the school received solar panels and light emitting diode (LED) lights from former PSHS students and the Wilfred and Bonnie Uytengsu Foundation. 

The foundation shouldered the cost of the materials such as the photovoltaic solar panels as well as the LED lights, batteries, controllers, cables, roofing and other accessories, amounting to P2.5 million.

“Our batch wanted to donate something that would have far more lasting impact than the usual monetary or material donations,” said Farley Aguila, president of PSHS Batch ‘85.

According to Dr. Helen Caintic, PSHS director, the solar-powered lights at the administration building and the peripheral roadway of the PSHS main campus have been in operation for a few months. “We have seen some savings on electricity which we expect to increase steadily.”

“It was a great help to us and the students during the recent nationwide power outage due to tropical storm ‘Basyang’,” said Caintic.

Aside from the PSHS, the Sitero Francisco Memorial National High School in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City recently installed a 1kW photovoltaic solar array to light its nine-classroom building.