Host communities grow along with Hedcor

The Bagobo-Tagabawa, an indigenous peoples community in Sibulan, Davao del Sur, noted an improvement in quality of living since AboitizPower’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Hedcor, started operating in their area. The IP group has since benefited from social development projects as well as an annual share in the generation of Hedcor’s 42.5 MW Sibulan Hydroelectric Power Plant.
Lydia Ang, a community leader in Sibulan recalls the hard living conditions before the hydropower company developed the Sibulan plants. She describes a community without farm-to-market roads, difficulty of reaching hospitals, limited access to clean water, dilapidated school facilities and lack of educational materials for students and teachers alike.
“Daghang grasya ang niabot kanamo sa pag sulod sa Hedcor (we received much benefits from Hedcor),” Ang said, adding that the community’s annual budget tripled within the Hedcor’s 1st year of operations.
As Hedcor’s vice president for Business Development Gregorio Jabonillo said, the growth of host communities is inclusive with that of the company’s.
Host communities, meaning the provinces, municipalities, barangays, and the IP groups, each receive an annual share from the company’s power generation. This is the third year that communities in Sibulan received their annual generation shares.