Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. MIRO S. QUIMBO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Access to reliable energy remains a significant challenge even in urban 
areas. As of October 2024, the Second Congressional Commission on Education 
(EDCOM II) reports that approximately 1,500 public schools nationwide still lack 
access to electricity. Even for schools already connected to the grid, energy demand 
surges strain the system, while continued reliance on conventional power sources 
contributes to increased carbon emissions. By integrating solar energy into public 
school infrastructure, we not only reduce pressure on the national grid but also 
take concrete steps toward a cleaner, renewable energy future. 
Turning to solar energy also cuts down on electricity expenses for schools, 
allowing for the savings to be used for ICT infrastructure, learning materials, 
water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. 
To address these gaps, the bill leverages the Philippines’ natural advantage 
in solar energy by mandating the installation of solar energy systems in public 
school buildings. The measure aims to achieve 100% solar electrification coverage 
within five years for the country’s 323,378 school buildings, while also ensuring 
that newly constructed schools are built solar-ready.  
Solar energy presents a sustainable and scalable solution that aligns with 
the Philippines’ geographic and climatic conditions. Beyond addressing the 
electrification gap, this bill positions the education sector as an active participant 
in the country’s transition to renewable energy. 
While the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public 
Works and Highways (DPWH) have taken initial steps toward this goal, focusing 
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on Last Mile Schools (LMS), further legislative support is necessary to accelerate 
and institutionalize these efforts. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly 
sought. 
       HON.  MIRO S. QUIMBO 
           Representative 
 Second District, Marikina City  


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. MIRO S. QUIMBO 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT SOLAR 
ENERGY 
SYSTEM 
TO 
PUBLIC 
SCHOOLS 
AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. —  This Act shall be known as the “Solar Powered  
Public Schools Act" 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.  —  It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to promote energy security, sustainability, and resilience in public education 
by ensuring that all public schools are equipped with reliable and renewable 
energy sources. Recognizing the critical role of electricity in delivering quality 
basic education, the State shall prioritize the electrification of public schools, 
particularly those in unserved and underserved areas, and shall adopt solar 
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energy as the preferred technology in achieving this objective. 
 
The State further commits to reducing the fiscal burden on local 
government units and school administrators by facilitating the transition to cost-
efficient solar energy systems, thereby enabling greater investment in educational 
infrastructure and learning resources. Toward this end, the State shall integrate 
solar energy systems in both existing and newly constructed public school 
buildings, in accordance with the principles of environmental sustainability and 
inclusive development. 
 
SEC. 3. Coverage. — This Act shall apply to all public school buildings 
under the supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd). It shall cover the 
installation, integration, and maintenance of solar energy systems in: 
 
a) Existing public school buildings that are not connected to the electricity 
grid, including but not limited to those as identified under DepEd’s Last 
Mile Schools Program; 
 
b) Existing public school buildings located in areas with intermittent, 
unstable, or unreliable electricity supply, as determined by the Department 
of Energy (DOE) or any of its attached agencies, including the National 
Electrification Administration (NEA) and the National Power Corporation 
(NPC); 
 
c) Existing public school buildings with stable grid access, which shall 
nonetheless be required to integrate a minimum level of renewable energy 
capacity as may be determined by DepEd and DOE. 
 
d) All newly constructed public school buildings, which shall be designed 
and constructed to be solar-ready, with the cost of solar energy systems 
integrated into the total construction cost of the school. 


 
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SEC. 4. Construction of Solar Energy Systems in Existing Public Schools. 
— The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in coordination with 
DepEd and DOE, shall undertake the installation and construction of solar energy 
systems in existing public school buildings: Provided, That DepEd shall, from its 
inventory of all public school buildings at the time of the approval of this Act, 
develop a master list of target schools for the electrification and installation of solar 
energy systems; Provided further, That DepEd shall, in coordination with the 
DPWH and DOE, annually identify a subset of target schools from the master list 
to be equipped with solar energy systems; Provided finally, That the 
implementation of this program shall be completed within five (5) years from the 
effectivity of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act.  
 
SEC. 5. Solar Energy System Requirement for New DepEd School Buildings. 
—The DepEd shall incorporate the requirement for solar energy systems in its 
Minimum Performance Standards and Specifications (MPSS) for all newly 
constructed public school buildings. All such buildings shall be designed and 
constructed to be solar-ready, which shall include the structural, electrical, and 
spatial provisions necessary for the installation and operation of solar panels, 
inverters, battery storage systems, and related infrastructure; Provided, That the 
cost of solar energy systems and related installations shall be integrated into the 
total construction cost of the school building. 
 
SEC. 6. Reportorial Requirements. — The DPWH, in coordination with 
DepEd, shall submit to Congress an annual report on the implementation of this 
Act. The report shall include the list of existing public school buildings where solar 
energy systems have been installed, the list of newly constructed school buildings 
that are compliant with the solar-readiness requirement under Section 5, the status 
of the annual implementation targets identified under Section 4, and any 
implementation challenges and recommendations. 
 


 
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SEC. 7. Congressional Oversight. — The implementation of this Act shall 
be subject to the oversight functions of Congress. For this purpose, the 
Chairperson of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, and the 
Chairperson of the House Committee on Energy, as well as their counterparts in 
the Senate, shall monitor and evaluate the compliance of implementing agencies 
with the provisions of this Act, and may call upon such agencies to submit reports 
or appear before Congress as may be necessary to ensure its proper 
implementation. 
 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. —The amount necessary for the implementation of 
this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, DPWH, and DOE shall formulate rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause.  — If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain 
in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC 12. Effectivity. —  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved,