A COSTLY ENERGY CRISIS

“Many homeowners have complained that students, likewise teachers, of PNHS do not care where they throw their garbage and that we are not aware of cleanliness andorderliness.Inresponse,Project CLEAN aims to solve that,” said Geraldine Navales, the academic coordinator and proponent of Project CLEAN (Care, Learn, Encourage, and Nab), during an interview.

She stressed that due to the lack of trash-disposaletiquettethatstudents and teachers of PNHS exhume, many homeowners of Del Rosario subdivision and those near the school’s vicinity have started complaining, where one had sent a letter regarding this to the central office.

“In response to that, we implemented, and again, made the proposal for Project CLEAN,” Navales says.

She stressed that Project CLEAN, as its name suggests, should incentivize students and school staff to “care for our cleanliness, learn from the experience, encourage others to do so, and nab those who go against the rules and standards that Project CLEAN enforces.”

Many club officers of PNHS however have complaint that it’s ineffective if the majority don’t cooperate.

“Even though magayon ang intensyion niya sa school and sa environment, garo ang ibang students and teachers dae man dedicated,” opposes Rick Andro Banaria, an 11-HUMSS student and an SSG (Supreme Student Council) officer.

“Itong iba man inconsistent sa paglinig. Itong iba, garo kung nuarin lang pwede saka lang malinig. Kaya sana next school year, kung iko-continue pa man ining project na ini, mas maging cooperative sana ang gabos,” Banaria adds.

“Project CLEAN helps us to develop a sense of responsibility over our school’s environment.This initiative can help us to instill good habits that can be carried forward intootherareasofourlives,likeour own homes and communities. We just need to cooperate and be dedicated to its cause,” says Prince Lester Belza, a member of multiple clubs of PNHS and an 11-ABM student.

Although Project CLEAN’s main purpose is only to respond to the complaints of the homeowners of Del Rosario Subdivision, she says that it also aims to instill to students values, and that being “they are indebted to bring their own waste at home. Kasi, Project CLEAN is inclined with DepEd’s ‘Basura Mo, Dala Mo’policy,” she vocalized.

When asked about the negative feedback that the Basura Mo, Dala Mo policy has had from teachers andstudentsovertheyears,Navales stated that “the policy is directed by DepEd, and Project CLEAN is inclined with that”

“Although, effective naman siya [Basura Mo, Dala Mo policy] when inside the school,” Navales argues. “Ineffective lang outside the school kasi when students get out of school, tinatapon lang naman nila ‘yong basura kung saan-saan.”

SinceProjectCLEANisnearingits completion, Navales was asked if she plans to continue the project next year. “If you’re asking kung iko-continue pa next year, my answer is probably ‘yes’,” answers Navales.

Monthly electricity bill soars to P150,000; Escuro eyes solar panels to reduce monthly costs by 67%

As the monthly electricity bill of Pili National High School (PiliNHS) has started to rise to P150,000 per month since last year, School Principal Dr. Erma Escuro has initiated plans on using solar panels to minimise monthly costs by 67% (roughly P100,500 per month) in the next 3-4 months.

“Dahil nga halos lahat ng mga buildings ng school may aricons, even the admin building alone has more than 6, other than electric fans and other appliances that are always on, of course tataas ‘yung bill natin sa kuryente,” explained Principal Escuro when asked how our electricity bills have ballooned.

“Pero we already have plans naman,” she added. “We have already started to use solar

By Frances Vincent Decena

panels, and we want to expand them through every building in PNHS.”

She also said that after the solar panels near the pathway, which were bought using the funds from last year’s SGC collection, have been installed, the energy cost had already started to deescalate to P120,000. “What more if lahat na ng buildings meron?” she emphasized.

“Meron na rin akong ibang programs na na-implement last year para ma-tackle natin iyang issue na ‘yan, kagaya ng Energy Saving program, wherein offices were instructed to only use aircons during 9am-3pm. Pero wala, eh. Hindi naman sumusunod ‘yung mga departments,” she clarified.

Some teachers have also initiated their students to cut off electricity during certain times of the day, which sacrifices the students’ rights to access necessary appliances to lessen energy cost. However, Principal Escuro stated that she did not “instruct” teachers to do this as it would not ensure the students’safety.

Furthermore, she also added that solicitations to different organizations have already been made to collect funds for the solar panels, and if it isn’t enough, she said, “we’ll ask for assistance from the SPTA.”

Principal Escuro, moreover, stated that it would take three to four months before monthly energy costs start to recede completely by 67% or P100,000/ month.

PiliNHS bests 15 schools in 60th UNEP activation day, bags 5 awards in 3 categories

By Frances Vincent Decena

PiliNationalHighSchool's Drum and Lyre Corps (DLC) Marching Spartans, the Alluring Majorettes, and the Citizenship Advancement Training (CAT) unit participated and won various awards during the 60th Army R.O.T.C Activation Day of the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) that was conducted this Saturday, November 5, 2022 in Iriga City.

Of the awards they corralled, PiliNHS's Marching Spartans won first place in the DXC Exhibition; the Alluring Majorettes won first place in the Majorettes Exhibition; and the CAT unit won third in the Crack Platoon Silent Fancy Drill. Awards were also given to the leaders who brought direction to their team's performance. PiliNHS's Kim Bona of 11-Lorentz won best in band leader during the DXC Exhibition, and Gwyneth Sabularse of 12- STEM-C won best in majorette leader during the Majorette Exhibition. vvAbout 20 schools from Bicol region, both public and private, participated in the Activation Day. According to UNEP's official student publication The Frontline, there were 15 schools (including PiliNHS) that competed under Category 1-CAT Unit, and there were six schools that rivaled under Category 2- ROTC unit.

"We are destined to conquer a bigger stage!" Majorettes Coordinator Efren Bogayan posted on Facebook in celebration to their winning.

Thecommencementceremonywas followed by a parade after all the schools had assembled on the university ground of UNEP, in which the bands circled the perimeter of Iriga City.