ILOILO City – Schools across Western Visayas have been directed to promptly carry out energy conservation measures following a regional order from the Department of Education, in line with nationwide efforts to cut power consumption amid ongoing energy concerns.
The directive, issued through Regional Memorandum No. 366, series of 2026, implements DepEd Memorandum No. 022 and requires all public and private elementary and secondary schools in the region to comply without delay.
The move supports the national government’s push for stricter energy-saving protocols as fuel costs continue to rise and pressure on electricity supply persists.
Under the order, schools are instructed to reduce unnecessary power use in daily operations by maximizing natural lighting and ventilation, and ensuring the responsible use of electrical equipment in classrooms and offices.
Education officials in the region also emphasized the integration of energy conservation concepts into classroom instruction, encouraging teachers to guide students toward practical, everyday habits that promote efficient energy use both in school and at home.
Learners are likewise expected to better understand the broader energy situation, including its national and global implications, through discussions embedded in regular lessons.
School personnel have been tasked to closely monitor electricity consumption and manage lighting, cooling, and ventilation systems more efficiently.
In Iloilo province and city, the Schools Division Office has ordered the immediate and wide dissemination of the memorandum to school heads and supervisors to ensure full compliance.
Authorities clarified that the implementation of these measures should not disrupt end-of-school-year activities, summer programs, or Brigada Eskwela, but should instead be incorporated seamlessly into ongoing school operations.
The regional directive will remain in effect until national energy conservation policies are lifted or revised, with education officials underscoring the role of schools in shaping long-term energy-saving practices among communities./PN
