Powering the Future: How PBBM’s Green Light Sparked Hope in a Remote Agusan del Norte Tribe

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Sitio Tagpangi, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte — June 21, 2025. In a small, isolated village carved deep into the mountains of Mindanao, hope finally arrived — not by road, but by the spark of solar power and the glow of connectivity.

For the first time, the classrooms of Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School, nestled in the ancestral lands of the Higaonon tribe, lit up with electric light and satellite internet — a revolutionary moment under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s landmark Last Mile Electrification Program.

This transformative initiative — a ₱1.295-billion collaboration between the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) — aims to energize the country’s most isolated schools, ensuring no Filipino learner is left in the dark.

And in Sitio Tagpangi, the darkness was real.

From Shadows to Screens

For years, students here studied under flickering candles and kerosene lamps, while teachers struggled with limited resources and no access to digital tools. The isolation wasn’t just geographical — it was educational, economic, and deeply social. But all that changed on June 19, 2025, when government officials arrived bearing not just infrastructure, but the promise of inclusion.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara, braving river crossings and treacherous mountain roads, led the historic energization mission. Under the beating sun and amidst the cheers of the Higaonon community, the school was switched on — literally and figuratively — powered by solar energy and connected to the world via Starlink satellite internet.

“This is an IP school. They got electricity last Monday, thanks to the quick work of NEA and DOE,” Angara proudly announced during a live video call with President Marcos Jr., who joined from Quezon City. “This is just the beginning. We are ready to roll out to the rest.”

The Department’s bold vision is to electrify 295 remote public schools across the country within the year. With this pilot launch, the dream has become a tangible reality.

A President’s Promise

During the virtual engagement, President Marcos Jr. encouraged the young learners with an inspiring message:

“Maganda yung bago ninyong laruan. Gamitin niyo nang husto ‘yan. Marami kayong matututunan. Pararamihin pa natin ito—especially in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.”

True to his administration’s commitment to inclusive education, the President vowed to ensure that no child, regardless of where they live, is left behind in the digital era.

Community Empowerment Beyond the Classroom

Agusan del Norte Governor Angelica Amante, visibly moved, highlighted the impact on the Higaonon tribe:

“Ngayon po, very excited na silang pumasok. Hindi katulad dati na ayaw nila pumasok.”

The electrification goes beyond school grounds. Nearby homes are also benefiting from the newly installed solar power system, thanks to the support of ANECO (Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc.), which partnered with NEA on implementation.

NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda reaffirmed the urgency of their mission:

“I committed to Sec. Sonny that all 295 Last Mile Schools will be covered and rolled out within the year.”

It was a promise rooted in equity — to bridge the gap between students in urban hubs and those tucked away in the remotest corners of the archipelago.

A Spark That Ignites Dreams

In Sitio Tagpangi, light now dances on blackboards where shadows once reigned. Students who once hesitated to go to school now rush in with anticipation. For them, electricity isn’t just power — it’s opportunity. It’s access to information, to modern tools, and to a broader world that had long felt out of reach.

The story of Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School is now a beacon — proof that real change doesn’t start in the corridors of power but in the flicker of a classroom light, the hum of a tablet booting up, and the joyful gasp of a child seeing the world beyond the mountains for the very first time.

As the electrification program powers forward, one thing is clear: this isn’t just a project—it’s a revolution of hope, inclusion, and dignity.

The light has been turned on. The future has begun.

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