MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY – The Visayan Electric (VE), a Cebu-based utility company turned over 419 rewired classrooms to nine public schools within its franchise area in Cebu in time for the “Fire Safety Month” celebration in March this year under its P11-million “Upgrading of Electrical Systems in Schools Project” to help protect students and teachers from electrical fires in the future.
According to Quennie Bronce Head, VE-Reputation Enhancement Department that the company has rewired 4,783 classrooms in its franchise area since 2010 in a move to ensure that are safe from electrical issues and that students and teachers have a safe learning environment with reliable electricity.
The beneficiaries of the project are Pardo Extension ES, Hipodromo ES, and Inayawan ES in Cebu City; South Poblacion ES in San Fernando; Naga HS in Naga City; Cansojong NHS in Talisay City; Gerardo LL. Ouano MNHS in Mandaue City; Lamac ES in Consolacion, and Catarman ES in Liloan.
“Despite the start of the pandemic and the implementation of lockdowns last year which limited movement within our franchise area, we made it a point to continue our commitment to ensure the safety of our public schools,” President and Chief Operating Officer of Visayan Electric Engr. Raul Lucero said.
Older materials in electrical systems whether in schools or in homes have a higher tendency of overheating, Bronce said hence, there is a need to upgrade to systems that use modern materials to reduce the chances of electrical fires and other electricity-related issues.
Rewiring works began during the first quarter of 2020 but had to be stopped during the lockdown from March to May. Due to strict health protocols, rewiring works only resumed in July and was completed in December 2020. Pardo Extension ES and Hipodromo ES were the only schools where the rewiring work was finished before the lockdowns were implemented, Bronce bared.
Hipodromo ES principal Dr. Salvacion Oporto thanked Visayan Electric for the project and that rewiring was finished just in time because the school was used as Barangay Isolation Center until August last year.
Oporto said that the teachers were able to use the school only in September in preparation for the start of classes last October. “The barangay and us teachers were really able to maximize the use of the newly-rewired classrooms,” she added.
