AboitizPower displays volunteerism, social responsibility in Albay, Batangas

MANILA, Philippines -  AboitizPower Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiary AP Renewables Inc. (APRI), held a series of outreach programs during the holidays in the communities where its geothermal facilities are located.

AboitizPower held the activities as its way of thanking and helping the residents of its host communities — Tiwi in Albay and Makiling and Banahaw (MakBan) in Batangas — as well as promoting the spirit of volunteerism and social responsibility among its employees.

APRI Tiwi’s 40 volunteers and 18 scholars acted as kuya (big brother) and ate (big sister) to 100 indigent children from Barangay Putsan in Tiwi, Albay during their Christmas outreach held at the APRI administration building.

Here, the children received gifts and enjoyed lunch, games, a magic show, and a photo session with Santa Claus.

Aside from the Christmas party, they also held a “Ngiting Kumukutitap” series of dental missions for the residents of the 25 barangays of the municipality with the help of the rural health office of Tiwi.

Volunteers from the Philippine Army’s Dental Team and the Albay provincial health office as well as Dr. Jezriel Mendones were on hand to render their services.

Around 700 residents enjoyed free dental health services that included tooth extraction and dental consultations.

APRI corporate services SVP Juan Alfonso and APRI Tiwi facility management consultant Bill Ruccius graced the missions that were held at the administration buildings of Barangays Joroan, Naga, Cale, Tigbi and Nagas.

APRI MakBan, meanwhile, held its first Christmas outreach activity in the area. As with the program in Tiwi, indigent children were treated to lunch, games, gifts, a magic show, a photo session with Santa Claus an entertainment number from APRI MakBan volunteers and 13 APRI scholars.

Alfonso, APRI MakBan human resources manager Arnel Sumagui, and facility manager Januario Marali joined them in bringing Christmas cheer to 150 indigent children from Barangays Bitin, San

Vicente and Limao.

APRI’s outreach activities last December also included a free vision screening for nine elementary schools from seven barangays in MakBan and armchair donations to Bitin Elementary School.

These programs were part of AboitizPower’s thrust of ensuring suitable learning for the students of its facilities’ host communities.

Eye consultations were conducted to help detect and correct visual problems that may hinder them from learning, while eyeglasses were given to those who had problems with their vision.

Alfonso and Maralit, meanwhile, led the turnover ceremony at Bitin Elementary School, with the donations being accepted by municipality representative Jao Cabral, barangay chairman Apolino Navarette, Department of Education-Laguna representative Dr. Loreto Leonizo, and school principal Adoracion Quiatchon.

“We are making these donations to help provide these students with a suitable learning environment wherein they could nurture their dreams,” Alfonso said.

APRI’s outreach activities are testaments to AboitizPower’s commitment to go above and beyond mere power generation and distribution by initiating programs and projects for the educational, livelihood, health, environmental, and infrastructure needs of its host communities.

AboitizPower is the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, retail and power services. It is a major producer of renewable energy in the country with several hydroelectric and geothermal assets in its generation portfolio.

The non-renewable portfolio consists of plants throughout the country. The distribution utilities it owns and operates are located in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.