Aurora: Valencia, Negros Oriental: First Gen's Energy Development Corporation (EDC) has significantly expanded its educational assistance program, aiming to benefit more than 5,000 public elementary school learners within its host communities in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.
According to Philippines News Agency, Erwin Magallanes, head of EDC Negros Corporate Relations Department, stated that this expansion is part of the company's Adopt-a-School program, which falls under its flagship education initiative, SIKAT. Previously, the program was limited to the host barangays of Caidiocan, Puhagan, and Malaunay in Valencia, Negros Oriental. It now extends to additional schools in nearby villages.
Magallanes highlighted the collaboration with the Department of Education, which enables EDC to support an extra 1,000 beneficiaries across other barangays in Valencia. SIKAT, established in 1993, has been instrumental in offering scholarships for higher education and additional educational assistance to learners in communities hosting the company's geothermal facilities. Many former beneficiaries of the program have achieved professional success.
For the current school year, EDC has allocated PHP1.475 million to distribute school supplies to 5,099 elementary learners across 19 public schools in the Negros Island Region. Of these, 2,200 learners are from 13 schools in Negros Oriental, and 2,899 are from six schools in Negros Occidental. The first distribution phase in Valencia occurred from June 22 to 30, with another round scheduled for this month. Distribution in Negros Occidental is ongoing this week.
Among the schools receiving supplies is Nasuji Elementary School, where teacher April Kate Maglinao, a former EDC beneficiary, expressed gratitude for the continued support. Nerie Nuay, president of the General Parents-Teachers Association of Dungga Primary School in Barangay Malaunay, remarked on the positive impact the supplies have on alleviating the financial burden for families and boosting students' confidence and pride in their studies.
EDC, a subsidiary of First Gen Corporation, operates the 221.9-megawatt Southern Negros Geothermal Project in Valencia. Magallanes noted that the educational assistance program complements EDC's broader community development initiatives, including a PHP7.8 million remittance to host communities as part of the Department of Energy's Energy Regulation (ER) 1-94 program. Under the enhanced ER 1-94 program, the remittance rate increased from one centavo to three centavos per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated and sold, offering greater financial benefits to host communities.
