NEWS RELEASE 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐏𝐇 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐔𝐩 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞, 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝-𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐒

May 25, 2026

BUNAWAN, AGUSAN DEL SUR—𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖. 𝗔𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗼 𝗧. 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲 𝗝𝗿., 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗗. 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘇𝗮, 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗿. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗦. 𝗦𝗼𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻̃𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻, 𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿, 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

The activity gathered key partners and stakeholders committed to strengthening educational access and learning opportunities in geographically challenged communities. Among the major partners present were Aboitiz Foundation Inc. President Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar, Okada Foundation Inc. President James Lorenzana, representatives from City Savings Bank, headed by Assistant Vice President for Reputation and Brand Management Paula V. Ruelan, and Convoy of Hope through Rev. Raul S. Manuel for the school feeding program initiative.

The initiative forms part of the Aurora PH Project, which aims to address the challenges faced by schools in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) with limited access to electricity and internet connectivity. Through solar power systems and satellite-based internet, the project supports uninterrupted learning, improved digital access, and disaster resilience among remote and Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities.

Dinagat Elementary School, one of the beneficiary schools, is located in a marshland area prone to prolonged flooding, resulting in frequent power interruptions that affect school operations. The school also serves learners from the Dinagat IP community, highlighting the need for sustainable and reliable educational support.

A key feature of the project is the installation of a solar power system on a floating classroom, allowing learning to continue even during flood conditions. The facility also serves as an evacuation center for the community during emergencies, while the addition of Starlink connectivity and learning equipment strengthens access to digital education resources.

During the turnover ceremony, beneficiaries received various educational and community support resources, including solar power materials, water tanks, television sets, pupils’ kits, Starlink connectivity, and other blended learning tools aimed at improving school facilities and classroom instruction.

A significant highlight of the project was the installation of a solar power system on a floating classroom, providing an innovative and resilient solution to the school’s environmental challenges. The floating classroom enables the school to continue operating even during flood conditions, ensuring uninterrupted learning among learners. In times of emergencies and disasters, the facility also serves as an evacuation center for the surrounding community, making it a dual-purpose structure that promotes both education continuity and community resilience.

With the addition of Starlink connectivity and learning equipment, learners and teachers now have improved access to digital educational resources despite environmental disruptions.

The activity was further strengthened through the leadership and support of Schools Division Superintendent of Agusan del Sur Josita B. Carmen, CESO V, Public Schools District Supervisor Gina A. Seroy, and Cluster Head Larry E. Marcos. Full support was likewise extended by the Local Government Unit of Bunawan, headed by Mayor Sylvia B. Elorde.

The school community expressed heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders and donors whose generosity brought meaningful assistance to the learners, teachers, and personnel of Dinagat Elementary School and San Marcos Elementary School.

Special appreciation was also extended to the Barangay Local Government Unit officials, headed by Barangay Captain Hon. Ronalyn Ayala Otero, 1st Barangay Councilor Hon. Rudy Ayala, and Purok Chairman Ricky Escopete, for their untiring support and active participation in the successful conduct of the activity.

The initiative reflects the continuing commitment of DepEd Caraga and its partners in ensuring inclusive, accessible, and quality education for all learners, especially those in remote and underserved communities.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

By: Jairha Anne T. Sususco

TA I - ESSD

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