Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
 MANDATING THE INSTALLATION OF 200-WATT SOLAR PANELS IN 
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS WHERE ELECTRICITY IS NOT AVAILABLE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Department of Education reported in 2019 that there are 1,664 
public and primary and secondary schools with no electricity affecting more 
than 380,000 students. The DepEd’s mandate to guarantee equitable, 
culturally relevant, and comprehensive basic education may leave these 
pupils behind.   
In a study by the University of the Philippines National College of Public 
Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), it was established that the 
electrification of schools positively impacts the National Achievement Test 
performance of students. 1  As an indicator of graduating students’ 
performance, lower NAT scores would imply the need for better interventions 
to improve the student’s achievement of the curriculum’s learning standards. 
In many remote schools in the country where there is no electricity, 
many students remain disadvantaged not only because they lack adequate 
classroom lighting but also because they lack access to computers as learning 
aids. 
This bill aims to close this gap and make available to public schools 
solar panels that will energize classrooms and hence promote better learning 
1 University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies. 2020-05. 
DOI: https://cids.up.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/UP-CIDS-Policy-Brief-2020-
05.pdf
May 16, 2023
8:24 am
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among our schoolchildren. Such an initiative will also complement the 
National Electrification Administration’s (NEA) ongoing electrification 
program which will eventually include all public classrooms around the 
country. The end goal is for solar power to become either a primary or 
alternative power source for all of the country’s public classrooms. 
  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.  
 
 
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE INSTALLATION OF 200-WATT SOLAR PANELS IN 
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS WHERE ELECTRICITY IS NOT AVAILABLE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the state to 
improve the quality of education in all areas nationwide. When electricity is 
not available, support technology for a quality education could not be 
delivered. The installation of 200 watts solar panels in selected classrooms or 
facilities will ensure that all schools nationwide will have the power to energize 
basic teaching tools such as lighting, computers, printers, and other 
laboratory equipment enabling them to deliver the same degree of quality 
teaching as other schools to improve the quality of education. 
SECTION 2. Installation of Solar Panels. – The Department of Education 
is hereby mandated to ensure that all public elementary and high school 
buildings nationwide that cannot be connected to the grid shall be installed 
with solar panels with a capacity of at least 200 watts.  
The solar panels that will be installed in the school buildings shall 
include system components which include but not limited to charge 
controllers, inverters and batteries for it generate at least 200 watts of 
alternating current (AC) at a standard voltage of 220 volts. 
SECTION 3. Cooperation. – The Department of Education (DepEd) shall 
cooperate with the Department of Energy (DoE) and the Department of 
Science and Technology (DOST) to address the technical requirements of 
implementing the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 4. Coverage. – For purposes of implementing the provisions of this 
Act, the schools to be installed with 200 watts solar panels shall include the 
following: 
a.) Public elementary or high school buildings not smaller than the size of 
three (3) classrooms in barangays where electrical line installation is 
not available; and,  
b.) School laboratory or educational support facility of any size located in 
barangays where electrical line installation is not available. 
 
SECTION 5. Appropriations. –The budget necessary for the implementation 
of this Act with respect to public schools shall be included in the annual 
budget of DepEd. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DepEd shall issue 
the corresponding rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of 
this Act. 
 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws and parts of any law, order, rule 
and regulation or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed 
or amended accordingly.  
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
 
Approved,