Hedcor remits over P6-M community shares in Benguet

Hedcor remits over P6-M community shares in Benguet

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Community shares turnover. (L-R) Municipal Councilors Jonie S. Puroc and Bartolome L. Baldas Jr.; Vice Mayor Roderick C. Awingan; Hedcor Group External Relations Manager Geraldine Ronquillo; Hedcor Group External Relations AVP John Michael Rico; Municipal Treasurer Norman D. Antero; Mayor Romeo K. Salda; and Municipal Councilors Henry M. Kipas and Richard D. Wacnisen.

Hedcor, the run-of-river hydropower arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), turned over more than P6-million in community shares to its host municipalities and barangays in Benguet, which are expected to help improve local infrastructure, enhance public services, and support livelihood programs.

Broken down, the Municipality of Sablan received over P2-million, while three of its barangays received a combined P1.3 million. Meanwhile, the Municipality of La Trinidad, together with three of its barangays, also received a total of P1.3 million. Rounding out the rest are community shares to the Municipalities of Tuba and Itogon, and the Province of Benguet. These represent the actual shares from the generation of Hedcor’s hydro power plants for the full year 2024.

Part of the Energy Regulation (ER) 1-94 program of the Department of Energy, community shares are funds received by host communities accounting for one centavo for every kilowatt-hour (P0.01/kWh) generated by a residing power plant. Over the years, the community shares from Hedcor have contributed to rural electrification, disaster response, educational support, and community-based medical missions.

“As the fruit basket of Benguet, our priority is agriculture. We aim to establish Sablan as a recognized agricultural hub. These funds will directly support our farmers and help ensure food security for our community,” said Sablan Mayor Alfredo Dacumos Jr., noting their need for improved mobility, expanded access to markets, and support for agricultural development.

In La Trinidad, the local government plans to use its community shares to expand rural electrification across 16 barangays, focusing on far-flung and mountainous areas that have long struggled with little to no access to electricity.

“Many of our remote communities still live without electricity. This affects children the most, as they are forced to study and live in darkness,” explained La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda. “With Hedcor’s support, we’re powering up these barangays and national highway communities.”

“A portion of the funds will also go to scholarship programs for underprivileged youth who cannot afford to attend school,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Tuba intends to allocate its community shares to enhance local water systems, ensuring access to clean and reliable drinking water for its residents. The local government also plans to implement infrastructure improvements that address flood-prone areas and strengthen road safety, particularly during extreme weather events.

“These community shares do more than just provide financial support. They directly impact thousands of lives, strengthening local economies, improving public services, and helping communities become more resilient,” said Noreen Vicencio, Hedcor’s General Manager for Hydro Operations. “By investing in our host communities, Hedcor is not only delivering renewable energy, it is also ensuring that sustainability translates into real, long-term progress for the people of Benguet.”

Hedcor operates 22 run-of-river hydropower facilities and multiple solar power plants across the Philippines, nine of which are located in Benguet. Companies within the Hedcor Group are wholly-owned subsidiaries of AboitizPower through Aboitiz Renewables, Inc.

About AboitizPower

Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) is the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, and retail electricity services. Guided by its vision and higher purpose, the company actively contributes toward uplifting the lives of the Filipino people and achieving a better world. 

The company is one of the largest power producers in the Philippines, with a balanced portfolio of assets located across the country. It is a major producer of renewable energy, with several hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar power generation facilities. It also has thermal power plants in its generation portfolio to support the country’s baseload and peak energy demands. 

AboitizPower also owns distribution utilities that operate in high-growth areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, including the country’s second and third-largest private utilities. 

In step with the country’s ambitions for its energy mix, AboitizPower aims to grow its portfolio of generation assets with renewables and selected baseload builds. The Company seeks to increase its renewables group’s assets (collectively called Cleanergy) significantly from indigenous energy sources such as solar, hydro, geothermal, and wind. To date, AboitizPower, together with its partners, offers the largest renewable energy portfolio in the Philippines based on installed capacity under its operational control.

About Hedcor 

Hedcor is the run-of-river hydropower arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) with over 45 years of experience in delivering reliable energy. We drive the Philippines’ energy transition with our expertise in managing renewable assets — delivering reliable and sustainable energy solutions that empower communities and support national goals. Hedcor provides best-in-class operational and asset management services for renewable energy assets nationwide 

Reposted from: https://aboitizpower.com/news/hedcor-group/hedcor-powers-progress-in-benguet-with-peso6m-community-share-turnover

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