JANUARY 18, 2010 marks a milestone for the City of Baguio.
On this date, the Pacday Quinio Elementary School (PQES) at Km4 Asin Road was the recipient of the first-ever solar oven in Baguio - a donation from the Rotary International District 6980 of Central Florida, USA and District 3790, Philippines.
The Rotary Club of Baguio Sunrise, through the efforts of its Past President Dr. Antonio D. Bautista, labored for two years to make the donation of two ovens possible, the other oven being delivered to the Aeta community in Pampanga through the Rotary Club of Mabalacat, Pampanga.
The solar oven project is in line with Rotary's major thrusts on hunger and poverty alleviation, safe drinking water, and environment preservation. The oven allows the cooking of nutritious meals in an energy saving and environment friendly way. It may also be used for a livelihood program where nutritious meals may be cooked at a lower cost to be sold for revenue. Beneficiaries of the Pacday Quinio solar oven include the PQES students and teaching staff, the Rotary Community Corps (an association of community volunteers of parents and teachers), and the surrounding communities, in general.
The solar oven was launched on January 19 with a demonstration of its use and effectiveness. Among those who witnessed the launch were RI District 3790 Governor Oyan Villanueva, Past District Governor Mark Go, District Secretary Linda Winter, DepEd Division Superintendent Doctor Ellen Donato, Barangay officers, members and officers of the Rotary Club of Baguio Sunrise, teaching staff of Pacday Quinio Elementary School, and a number of students and parents.
A Memorandum of Agreement was executed by the Rotary Club of Baguio Sunrise, PQES and the Rotary Community Corps to ensure the continuous and productive use of the solar oven.