Remote Negros school gets solar lanterns, chargers

Darkness due to the lack of electricity will no longer be a problem for pupils at a remote town in Negros Oriental this school year, after their school received some 30 solar lanterns from a private foundation this week. The Taos Puso Foundation's Ride for Light 2011 turned over the lanterns to Cantil-e Elementary School in Dumaguete City, news site Visayan Daily Star reported Thursday. Cantil-e village is kilometers away from the urban area where residents have not been able to avail of electricity, the report said. At the turnover rites, Philippe Saubier of the Ride for Light Taos Puso Foundation presented the solar lanterns to Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria. Sagarbarria in turn gave the lanterns to school principal Lilybeth Estrosos. “With this program, the solar lanterns and mobile phone charger are the call of the times, we have to use innovative technology nowadays to enhance education. We all know that no matter what we do, technology has to come in and this program in bringing light here in Cantil-e," the mayor said. He also said that the program can help students study at night and give them a better chance to advance to high school. Also, the mayor said Cantil-e Elementary is also a beneficiary of the e-impact type module, the new technology that will be implemented starting June. — TJD, GMA News