The DOE Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office (CWPO) staff conducted the energy briefing for Grades V and VI students of Cembo Elementary School in Makati City at the DOE Headquarters in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The students were accompanied by their science coordinator, Jeanne L. Angcaya, and Grade V teacher, Michael Madueño.
“As part of the E-Power Mo! Campaign, we are more than committed to educate our youngsters to empower them so they’ll be able to discern the relevance of energy in their daily lives,” DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said at the workshop.
“We have to inculcate the significance of energy to these children as early as possible to enable us to develop their energy consciousness and become part of our own army who can rally for efficient use of energy, among other energy aspirations that we have,” Cusi said.
DOE-CWPO Head Helen B. Arias introduced the Energy Smart Kids Program and how DOE endeavors to make students “energy smart” by exposing them to new situations, new faces and true-to-life energy applications.
The students were oriented on basic electricity concepts and household energy conservation tips as discussed by Electric Power Industry Management Bureau Supervising Science Research Specialist Engr. Eduardo B. Fernandez and CWPO Senior Science Research Specialist Norita C. Froilan, respectively.
Moreover, engineers from the Renewable Energy Management Bureau highlighted the potentials of renewable energy. Chief Science Research Specialist Fortunato S. Sibayan explained the principles of solar and wind energy; Science Research Specialist II (SRS II) Maria Adeline L. Pagauitan discussed the sources of biomass and how they are transformed to produce electricity; SRS II Jeffrey Andal described the geologic settings of geothermal systems; and SRS II Raymond L. Samson expounded on how water is used to generate electricity.
As take-home exercises, students were also asked to work on "Who Left the Lights on" by using logic to determine who is the culprit among the names mentioned in the short story; and on the "Energy Waste Coloring Page", which directs the students to encircle all examples of energy being wasted in the given house configuration.
As a tradition since its inception in 2016, the half-day educational program ended with the Pledge of Commitment branding the students as “Energy Cost Busters” to apply their newly acquired learning on energy in their day to day living.
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