Renewable energy solutions provider SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) Group reaffirmed its commitment to bringing about positive change during its annual host communities’ forum, and reinforced the importance of leadership with the theme, “Leading with positive energy: Rebuilding our shared future.”
The host communities’ forum is an annual event held by SNAP to update its community-based stakeholders on the company’s operations and initiatives, and facilitate their participation in improving its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.
For the second year in a row, the forum took place online for stakeholders in Benguet, Ifugao, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya, following Covid-19 health and safety protocols.
Indigenous peoples’ organizations, as well as provincial and municipal government officials, attended the series of virtual forums.
In his keynote address, SNAP President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Yu talked about constructive partnership and a future built on sustainability, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in the context of promoting growth and progress.
“It is important that we collaborate effectively, foster trust, offer mutual support, craft programs together, and perhaps, even hold each other accountable to our common purpose of community development.”
In 2021, SNAP provided nearly P11.9 million in CSR funds to its host communities, covering Covid-19-related projects.
Since 2007, the company has supported 950 community-initiated projects covering environment, education, livelihood, infrastructure, indigenous culture, and health and safety worth P472.8M.
In addition to its CSR program, SNAP has also remitted P30M in 2021 as part of the Department of Energy’s ER 1-94 program.
The ER 1-94 program, which provides host communities of power generating facilities with a one-centavo share for every kilowatt-hour (PhP0.01/kWh) of total electricity sales, normally covers projects for electrification, livelihood, health, reforestation, watershed management, and other environmental initiatives.
In March 2020, the DOE issued a circular authorizing the use of the program funds for Covid-19-related projects.
SNAP’s host communities have used the fund for emergency assistance, vehicles, quarantine facilities, relief or food supplies, and other health and Covid-19-related needs.
A highlight of the forum was a motivational speech by Vincent “Chot” Reyes, business executive, coach of the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team, and leadership coach, who delivered a talk on leadership in the face of adversity.
He spoke about the importance of positive leadership, teamwork, and resilience in difficult times.
“We can’t predict the future, but we can prepare for it,” he said, adding that “it is not the team that makes the purpose, it’s the purpose that makes the team.” – Press release
