The SM Foundation (SMFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM group, together with Maxeon Solar Technologies, recently powered up the Lemery Pilot Elementary School (LPES) in Batangas with the installation of solar panels on its roof, under the SMFI and Maxeon’s Sinag Schools program.
This collaboration aims to provide clean and renewable energy to schools in grassroots communities by installing solar panels on an SM school building, especially those that have low operating expenses.
In addition to the solar panel installation, which intends to power positive change in the way energy is consumed in public schools, the program also aims to enhance the understanding of students about energy management and the need to transition to cleaner energy alternatives with lower environmental impacts.
“Through this program, we want to power up the learning and development of young people,” said Maxeon Fab4 General Manager Glenn Everett. “We want to help teach young people about solar energy, about renewable energy. We want to power up the next generation to help save our planet.”
The SM school building at the LPES, which was donated by SMFI in partnership with SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) in 2017, now boasts 21 solar panels—estimated to produce 6510 watt-p. The savings on electricity will help the school realign its budget to more urgent needs and allow it to maintain an environment more conducive to learning.
SMFI executive director Debbie Sy underscored the importance of collective efforts in advancing the learning experience of every student in the country: “We believe that collaboration can drive growth and become a force for good in addressing societal challenges. CSR partnerships can create solutions that improve society by fostering learning, promoting innovation and gaining access to new technologies, such as the Sinag schools program. CSR collaboration can pool resources, both financial and human resources, between multiple organizations, which can amplify social good impact.”
“The establishment of an ever-evolving CSR strategy and partnerships will help companies and non-government organizations in developing and implementing crucial social good programs over decades while having procedures in place that integrate social and environmental priorities into CSR core strategy – all in close collaboration with stakeholders,” she added.
Everett also mentioned how SMFI and Maxeon share similar values and advocacies when it comes to helping Filipino learners: “We are happy to be working with the SM Foundation to power up the Lemery Pilot Elementary School. Individually, we can do much. But together, we can actually do more. For us to bring our solar technology and SMFI to bring in their schools—these things are much better together than they would be apart.”
The SM Foundation also donated to LPES eight desktop computers, 200 bags with school supplies and more than 160 pieces of brand-new books to promote the love for reading among the school’s students. Clothing items for parents were also distributed.
The SM Foundation, through its School Building Program, is an active partner of DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program. This initiative aims to promote quality public education by building classrooms nationwide. To date, it has turned over more than 100 school buildings to grassroots communities. For more information, follow SM Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube: @SMFoundationInc.
Maxeon, headquartered in Singapore, designs, manufactures and sells the Maxeon and SunPower brands of solar panels. It has sales operations in more than 100 countries, operating under the SunPower brand in certain countries outside the United States. Maxeon is a leader in solar innovation, with products that span the global rooftop and solar power plant markets through a network of more than 1,700 trusted partners and distributors.