Aboitiz Foundation, in partnership with Okada Foundation Inc., has brought reliable solar power and internet connectivity to a remote floating school community in the marshlands of Agusan del Sur, advancing efforts to expand educational access in one of the Philippines’ most underserved areas.
Through AuroraPH, its flagship education initiative, Aboitiz Foundation recently installed a 5.49-kWp hybrid solar power system and satellite internet connectivity at Dinagat Elementary School, providing stable electricity and digital learning access in a community where classrooms rise with floodwaters during the rainy season.
Located in Sitio Dinagat, Barangay San Marcos in Bunawan, Dinagat Elementary School can only be reached through an hour-long pump boat ride across the Agusan marshlands, where rivers serve as primary transport routes.
For the students and teachers of Dinagat Elementary School, the arrival of electricity and connectivity represents more than an infrastructure upgrade. It provides access to learning tools, information, and opportunities that remain difficult to reach in many geographically isolated communities.
“At Aboitiz Foundation, we believe that where a child is born should never determine the quality of education they receive,” said Aboitiz Foundation President Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar. “Every learner — whether in a city classroom or in a floating school — deserves the opportunity to learn, connect, and build a better future.”
AuroraPH combines renewable energy systems, satellite internet connectivity, and digital learning tools to support schools in areas where conventional infrastructure remains limited. With stable power and connectivity, schools can also serve as shared community hubs where residents gain better access to digital services, information, and opportunities often unavailable in geographically isolated communities.
Aurora PH is scaling its reach, with 84 schools currently in the pipeline and a long-term goal of connecting 300 last-mile schools nationwide to electricity and internet. In the CARAGA region alone, eight schools have been energized through the initiative, several of them serving remote and indigenous communities.
Encouraged by AuroraPH’s growing reach and lasting impact, Okada Foundation expanded its partnership with Aboitiz Foundation through an additional ₱10-million grant to help bring reliable power and internet connectivity to more last-mile schools across the country.
“At Okada Foundation, we believe education is one of the most powerful ways to create long-term opportunities for young Filipinos, while sustainability helps secure a better future for the next generation,” said Okada Foundation President James Lorenzana.
“More than solar panels and internet connectivity, AuroraPH is about creating better opportunities for learning, supporting teachers, and helping communities gain access to possibilities that were previously out of reach,” he added.
The initiative also supports Okada Manila’s broader sustainability and community development commitments under its ESG platform, Okada Green Heart.
City Savings Bank, the thrift banking arm of Union Bank of the Philippines, also donated a flat-screen television and water storage tanks to Dinagat Elementary School to support classroom instruction and improve access to clean water within the community.
As AuroraPH continues to expand, Aboitiz Foundation and its partners demonstrate how investing in education creates impact beyond the classroom — opening opportunities for learners and helping build stronger, more connected communities for generations to come.
